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Post by extremegardener on Oct 15, 2011 10:45:36 GMT -5
One of my Gloire de Portugal plants has tried to run to seed - I've taken the flowering stalks off - and the flowers were white, which I haven't seen before in a brassica. Is this normal in couves, or is it just this variety? I've only had a couple of CTs survive winter and bloom, so my knowledge of this is limited, but, my current favorite variety, Mirandela (semi heading) has white flowers. |
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Post by robertb on Feb 17, 2012 14:34:02 GMT -5
The Gloire de Portugal have been hammered by the frost. Some have done better than others, so it's probably going to be a case of selecting for a hardier strain, and treating them as an autumn cabbage. I probably need to plant more this year; if I have a couple of doaen plants going into winter, that gives me more chance to select without having too much of a genetic bottleneck.
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Post by oxbowfarm on Feb 18, 2012 5:37:43 GMT -5
I had about 60 plants going into winter, under a low tunnel. I took a glance the other day during one of our super-weird thaw days we've been having all Feb. Definitely some losses. I am hoping to have enough survivors to create a Couve Grex/Landrace and reselect for winter hardiness here in the northeast. Definitely seems like some of them are pretty tender, just about everything else under there is doing peachy.
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Post by robertb on Feb 18, 2012 12:23:50 GMT -5
I haven't got as far as thinking about a landrace; I'm trying specific varieties at the moment. No doubt I'll try some crossing once I've got an idea of the potential.
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Post by stevil on Feb 20, 2012 5:06:56 GMT -5
I grew 5 of these that Dan (RIP) generously sent to me. I was pleased with them althought hey didn't get anything like as big as in the video in my short season, cool conditions. Only one bolted and that was Penca de Chaves Tronchuda - it had white flowers (picture) - so this contradicts the fact that Pencas should be yellow? Attachments:
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Post by oxbowfarm on Feb 20, 2012 5:15:29 GMT -5
I think Dan sent me 10 varieties, not all of which germinated well in my little trial tray, I was only seeding about 20 plants each. I was looking under the low tunnel yesterday and it looks like I lost about half, this tunnel has been uncovered by the wind twice this winter so that may have something to do with it. The last time I didn't notice until the next day and the rowcover had frozen half-off the hoops so I just re-adjusted the plastic and added more rocks. Dan did state that my set-up is a little flimsy. Compared to his, mine are slapped together cob-jobs. I should have plenty of plants for a viable crossing. I'm excited to see the flower colors.
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Post by 12540dumont on Feb 20, 2012 13:27:00 GMT -5
Oxbow, When yours seeds, will you send me a few? I love Portuguese Cabbage, and would love to get some variety going here. They grow great for me.
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Post by oxbowfarm on Feb 20, 2012 18:31:05 GMT -5
I snuck underneath there this afternoon and had a close look. Of the ten varieties Dan sent me only 5 germinated (small trial plantings, not the entire packets). Of those that got planted under the low tunnel, de Valhascos is toast. Most of the Penca de Acucar are dead but a couple are going strong. Just about all the Penca de Chaves is in great shape. Gloria de Portugal is hurting but there are 5-6 plants there that are limping along. Bacalan Grande looks pretty good. Lord-willing-the-creek-don't-rise, there are a good 45 plants there so we should have plenty of seed. I'm intending to allow them to cross indiscriminately ala Señor Lofthouse. There should be enough seed for anybody who wants it, barring disaster or my CDD.
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Post by raymondo on Feb 21, 2012 3:07:22 GMT -5
...I'm intending to allow them to cross indiscriminately ala Señor Lofthouse... Now who's practising brassicaceous miscegenation!  |
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Post by oxbowfarm on Feb 21, 2012 4:13:05 GMT -5
I learned it from you alright? I learned it by watching you!
They're all still Couve tronchuda Ray, sheesh. YOU'D throw in a kohlrabi just to see what happens, I know you.
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Post by raymondo on Feb 21, 2012 5:08:43 GMT -5
Hmmmm ... a kohlrabi with cabbagey leaves ... I wonder ...
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Post by robertb on Mar 13, 2012 4:10:42 GMT -5
All my CT's were killed off by the last cold snap of the winter. I'll try again next year; it's probably best planted in spring and grown as an autumn cabbage, but obviously something has to come through the winter for propagation. Maybe if I lift them in autumn and put them under cover? There are adapted strains available - the HSL have one which they say is identical to descriptions of the plants grown here in the 19th Century, and Thomas Etty has one - but it would be nice to have more! judging by the results last year, these plants are well worth the effort.
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Post by oxbowfarm on May 16, 2012 18:42:23 GMT -5
Couve tronchuda flower color seems to vary! Penca De Chaves  Bacalan Grande  Penca de Acucar is also yellow, the others all seem to be white, but I lost a few varieties completely. |
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Post by logrus9 on Dec 30, 2012 8:44:30 GMT -5
I found this forum because of this discussion. I bought some seed from Trade Winds Fruits, not sure of the variety. I watched The Victorian Kitchen Garden and because of their references to it I decided to try it. The clip that was posted earlier really convinced me, I hate that cabbage smell and I've avoided eating it even though I know it's good for me.
Thank you to everyone that contributed to this discussion, I learned a lot.
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Post by robertb on Dec 30, 2012 13:25:29 GMT -5
I tried Gloire de Portugal and found it had next to no frost resistance. I still have seed in the freezer, but after a couple of arctic winters I've been a bit hesistant about growing it, since I'd want to save seed.
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