Echter Meerkohl

An easily grown plant, succeeding in a good loam and an open sunny position but also tolerating some shade. Prefers a slightly alkaline soil in a position sheltered from strong winds (this report totally conflicts with the plants native habitat which is on sea shores - we have found this species to be very tolerant of strong maritime winds though it does not like cold northerlies much[K]). Tolerates poor soil and some shade. Dislikes acid and very stiff soils. Prefers a rich , well-drained very deep sandy loam and a pH of 7. Established plants are very drought tolerant. This species is hardy to about -20°c, it grows best in a cool maritime climate. Seakale is sometimes cultivated for its edible young shoots in the spring which are blanched by excluding light in order to make them less bitter. Two or three crops can usually be harvested each year. There are some named varieties. The roots are sometimes brought into a greenhouse in the winter and grown on there in order to produce an early crop of shoots. A deep-rooted and very long-lived plant, it dislikes root disturbance. The seed is dispersed by seawater, on which it can float for several days without loss of viability. A good bee plant. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 6. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down [1-2].

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Root Shoots Edible Uses: Young leaves - raw or cooked like spinach. They have a pleasant almost nutty flavour and go well in a mixed salad[K]. They also make a very pleasant cooked vegetable[K]. Older leaves develop a bitterness and are not so pleasant[K]. Young shoots - raw or cooked. Available in the spring, they have a delicate nutty flavour with a crisp texture. The shoots are usually blanched and can be cooked like asparagus. When properly cooked they retain their crispness and have a very agreeable flavour, somewhat like hazelnuts but with a slight bitterness. Root - cooked. Rich in starch and sugars. Young flower buds - raw or cooked. The flowering shoots are harvested when about 10 - 15cm long and before the flowers have opened. Used like sprouting broccoli, they are quite nice raw and delicious when lightly steamed[K].

Plants can be used for ground cover when spaced about 60cm apart each way.

Heimisch: Baltic States, Belgian Coast, Belgium, Bulgaria, DK, Denmark, England, England (England, Wales, Isle of Man, Scotland, Outer Hebrides, Orkney Isl., Shetland Isl., Isles of Scilly); Ireland (Ireland, Northern Ireland); Denmark; Norway; Sweden; Finland; Netherlands; Belgium; Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Schleswig-Holstein); Austria [I]; Czech Republic [I]; Slovakia; Hungary [I]; France; Channel Isl. (Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey); Croatia; Romania; Bulgaria; European Turkey; Estonia; Latvia; +Lithuania; E-European Russia; W-European Russia; Ukraine; Crimea; W-Northern Caucasus; Georgia [Caucasus]; USA [I] (Oregon [I], California [I]), FI, Finland, Flanders, Flemish Region, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Krym, NO, Netherlands, North America, North Caucasus, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Romania, SE, South European Russia, Sweden, Transcaucasus, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine, Walloon Region, conterminous 48 United States Eingeführt: CZ, Czech Republic, Czechia-Slovakia, Oregon, RU, Slovakia