Cavolo Nero Seeds — Brassica oleracea

The King of Winter Greens

Cavolo Nero (Brassica oleracea), also known as Tuscan Kale or Black Kale, is a stunning and supremely useful winter vegetable. Its long, deeply crinkled, near-black leaves are as beautiful in the garden as they are delicious in the kitchen. A staple of Italian cooking, Cavolo Nero is wonderfully versatile — perfect for soups, stews, pasta, stir-fries, or simply wilted with garlic and olive oil.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🛒 Striking dark, crinkled leaves — dramatic and architectural in the winter garden
• ❄️ Frost hardy — flavour actually improves after a frost
• ✂️ Cut-and-come-again — harvest outer leaves and the plant keeps producing
• 🍽️ Incredibly versatile in the kitchen — soups, pasta, stir-fries, chips and more
• 🌱 Easy to grow — a reliable performer for beginner and experienced gardeners alike

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow seeds in late summer to early autumn (February–April) into seed-raising mix, then transplant seedlings to a sunny or partly shaded spot with fertile, well-drained soil once they reach 10–15 cm tall. Space plants 45–60 cm apart. Water regularly and feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser through the growing season. Harvest outer leaves from the bottom up as needed. Plants can be productive for many months.

What's in the Packet

Each packet contains 10 seeds of Cavolo Nero (Brassica oleracea), with sowing and growing instructions included.