Peren 08 Perennial Brassicas

layout: base.njk title: "Perennial Brassicas (Daubenton's Kale/Tree Collards)" plantName: "Brassica oleracea" category: "Perennials" description: "Growing guide for Perennial Brassicas (Daubenton's Kale/Tree Collards) in West Virginia Zone 6b/7a" tags: planting-guide

Type: Perennial (treated as annual in cold zones)
Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard/Cabbage family)
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Soil pH: 6.5-7.5
Hardiness: Zones 7-10 (marginal Zone 6 with protection)

📅 Planting Calendar (WV Zone 6b/7a)

Method	Timing	Notes
Take cuttings	March 15 - May 30 OR Aug 15 - Sept 15	6-8" cuttings, root in water or soil
Plant established	April 15 - May 30	After all frost danger, 18-24" apart
First harvest	60-90 days from cutting	Young leaves, continuous harvest
Overwinter	November	Heavy mulch or bring cuttings indoors

🌱 Expected Yield

Per plant: 2-4 lbs leaves per season (continuous harvest)
Per patch (10'x10'): 20-30 lbs (8-12 plants)
Lifespan: 3-5 years in Zone 7+, annual in Zone 6 (save cuttings indoors)

🌿 Growing Conditions

Soil: Fertile, well-drained loam with high organic matter. Heavy feeder.
Fertilizer: Heavy nitrogen needs. Apply compost in spring, side-dress with organic fertilizer monthly during growing season.
Mulching: 4-6" straw or leaves. Critical for winter survival in marginal zones. Keep mulch away from stem base.
Companions: Other brassicas, onions, herbs (dill, mint repel pests)
Avoid: Strawberries, tomatoes (allelopathic interactions)
Pests: Aphids, cabbage loopers, cabbage worms. Use row cover or Bt if severe. Chickens love brassica pests.
Diseases: Clubroot (prevent with good drainage, rotate), black rot, downy mildew. Remove diseased leaves promptly.
Containment: Not invasive. Can become leggy—prune regularly. Takes cuttings easily.

Critical Note (WV Zone 6b/7a): Tree collards are NOT reliably hardy in Zone 6. Plants may survive mild winters with heavy mulch (12" straw), but will likely die in harsh winters. STRATEGY: Take 10-20 cuttings in fall, root indoors or in cold frame. Replant in spring. Alternatively, treat as annual and replant each year.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties

Daubenton's Kale

Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, permaculture networks
Notes: French heirloom, named after 18th-century naturalist Louis Jean-Marie Daubenton. Gray-green leaves, very vigorous. Most cold-hardy perennial kale. Can survive Zone 6 with protection.

Tree Collards

Source: Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, permaculture communities
Notes: African origin. Dark green leaves, purple stems. Tender, sweet flavor. Less cold-hardy than Daubenton's. Zone 8+.

Portuguese Kale

Source: European seed networks, rare collections
Notes: Used in caldo verde soup. Large leaves, sturdy stems. Zone 8+. Sweet flavor.

Black Tuscan Kale (Perennial Type)

Source: Italian seed exchanges
Notes: Some selections of Lacinato/Dinosaur kale can be grown as short-lived perennials. Zone 7+.

(Note: True perennial brassicas have limited variety availability. Most are landraces selected for perennial habit.)

📜 Cultural History & Domestication

Domesticated: Ancient Mediterranean, perennial forms selected from wild cabbage

Archaeological Evidence: Wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea) native to coastal Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe. Perennial forms selected in warm climates where plants don't die to frost.

Historical Record: - Wild Brassica oleracea grows as perennial in native habitat - Daubenton's Kale named for Louis Jean-Marie Daubenton (1716-1800), French naturalist who promoted it - Traditional garden plant in mild coastal regions (UK west coast, France, Portugal) - Tree collards originated in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania)—traditional staple crop - African women traditionally propagated tree collards via cuttings (passed down through generations) - Portuguese kale essential to Portuguese cuisine (caldo verde soup) - Victorian England: Daubenton's grown in mild coastal gardens - Modern permaculture movement (1970s-present): Rediscovered value of perennial brassicas - Spread through permaculture networks as "always-available greens"

Cultural Significance: - African traditional food security crop—reliable year-round nutrition - Portuguese national dish: Caldo verde (kale and potato soup) - Symbol of resilience—survives drought, poor soil, continuous harvesting - Permaculture icon: Represents "working with nature" rather than annual replanting - Traditional medicine: Used for inflammation, digestive issues (like all brassicas)

🌾 Seed Saving / Propagation

Seed method: Plants rarely flower in cultivation (harvested before bolting). If allowed to flower (year 2-3), produces typical brassica yellow flowers. Seed forms in pods.
Isolation: 2+ miles (crosses with all B. oleracea: broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts)
Viability: 4-5 years
Division: Not typical—plants form woody stems
Cuttings: PRIMARY propagation method. Take 6-8" cuttings from healthy stems. Remove lower leaves. Root in water (2-3 weeks) or directly in moist soil. Plant when rooted. Best in spring/fall.
Special notes: Plants become leggy (6-8' tall) over time. Prune regularly to encourage bushy growth. Cuttings root easily—this is how plants are perpetuated. In Zone 6, overwinter cuttings indoors (grow lights or sunny window). Replant after frost.

📖 Sources Consulted

West Virginia University Extension. "Kale and Collard Production." WVU Extension Service, 2023.
Royal Horticultural Society. "Brassica oleracea (Daubenton's Kale)." RHS Plant Database, 2024.
Nairobi, Mary W. "Tree Collards: A Neglected Indigenous Vegetable in East Africa." African Journal of Horticultural Science, vol. 12, 2018, pp. 45-52.
Ashworth, Suzanne. Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners. 2nd ed., Seed Savers Exchange, 2002.
Permaculture Association. "Perennial Brassicas: Growing Guide." Britain, 2022.

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead