Bayou forage kale

Bayou is a medium maturing forage brassica with good winter hardiness and a smooth leaf with a nutty flavor that is sweet to human taste. This kale has a smaller stem compared to other kale yet grows to a height of eight feet when taken for seed production.

Bayou opens up the soil in trials, similar to radish. When planted in late summer or early fall, Bayou is considerably more winter hardy than radish; this helps protect the soil longer from erosion. Initial observations show that when Bayou was grown for cover it reduced Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome and possibly reduced white mold.

Originating in Southern and Western coastal Europe, Brassica oleracea has been an important crop since 2000 BC because of its large leaf or head winter food reserves. Without frost, some varieties grow to 8-9’ tall. Members of the oleracea group will cross: kale, collards, Chinese broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and broccoli. Brassica napus is divided into three subspecies. The Rutabaga, Swedes in England, is ssp. napobrassica or rapifera and are grown for their swollen stems/roots that resemble turnips (B. raps). Siberian Kales and Hanover Salad (B. napus) are ssp. pabularis or pabularia and are grown for their leaves that resemble those of European kales (B. oleracea). Winter rape and canola are ssp. oleifera and are grown for their edible leaves, livestock forage, or for the oil rich seed. For B. napus, see Siberian Kale. Delicious kale recipes.