Increasingly popular 'baby salad leaf' to add colour, texture and taste to mixed salads. The mature plant can also be used as a winter hardy vegetable when fresh produce is in short supply.

Sow seed in February to March under glass for earliest crops, or April to July outdoors in a well-prepared seedbed that is free of weeds and has been raked to a fine tilth. Sow thinly, 13mm deep, in shallow drills 15cm between rows. Cover the seeds lightly with soil, firm well using the back of a rake, and water in if soil is dry.

After 6 weeks transplant into well manured and prepared soil. Plant with a dibber, allowing 45 to 50cm between plants. Firm soil well around plants, water generously after planting and during hot, dry weather. Can also be grown at 20cm spacing for smaller, tender leaves for salads.

Long harvesting season and good winter hardiness.

Serving suggestion - Italian bean, potato and kale soup. Mash cooked cannelloni or borlotti beans and potato. In a large pan sizzle onion, garlic, sweet pepper, Italian seasoning and rosemary. Stir in mashed beans and potato, add mashed plum tomatoes, broth, bring to boil. Simmer adding chopped kale leaves.