Seakale is a perennial Victorian vegetable that can be grown in a demanding or relaxed fashion. The blanched shoots are harvested in mid to late winter. With its large gray leaves and sweet scented fountains of white flowers, seakale is an attractive ornamental and should produce well for 7 years. There is little diversity within this crop.

Ideal Site- Seakale needs an open permanent location in reasonably fertile soil. A deep, well-drained, slightly alkaline soil rich in organic matter is best. Prior to planting, clear all weeds, especially perennials, and apply a medium-fertility soil improver. Treat the site with lime or  hydrated lime if soil is acidic. The ideal soil pH is 6.5 – 8.

Seed to Harvest - 2 years.

Cultivation- Seakale grown from seed tend to be more vigorous than those propagated from root cuttings. The minimum germination temperature is 45F (7C).

Undercover: Seed can be slow to germinate; sand paper it slightly to get it started. Sow in early spring in 3 ½ in (9cm) pots or in soil in a coldframe. Select the strongest-looking plants, harden off, and transplant to final position when they have 3 to 4 leaves.

Outside: Sow in a seedbed in mid-March, 1 in. (2.5cm) deep, in rows, 12in. (30cm) apart. Thin to 6-8in. (15-20cm)

Planting root cuttings- Seakale is often raised from offsets or root cuttings. Root cuttings con be taken in late fall from plants that are at least 3 years old. Cut lateral root branches off in 3-6in. (7.5-15cm) lengths in winter. Buds grow from the end nearest the main root. Cut that end square and the other slanted, so you know which end is which.

Stand bunches of prepared root cuttings, square cut upward, in moist sand. Plant outdoors in late March, by which time buds should have appeared. Rub out all but the strongest bud, and plant in a dibble hole with the buds 1in. (2.5cm) below soil surface.

Spacing- 12-15in x 18x24in (30-38cm x 46-60cm)

Plant Care- Apply an annual topdressing of medium-fertility soil improver or seaweed meal to permanent plants in late spring once stems are cut. Remove yellowing foliage and flowering shoots so the plants energy goes into the roots.

Problems- Slugs on young shoots, clubroot, root rot in soggy soil.

Harvesting- Allow plants to grow at least 1 year before harvesting.

Outside method- In February or March, clear away leaf debris from plants and cover them with an upturned bucket (at least 15in/38cm deep) or a forcing pot. Cover with leaves or straw to protect young shoots from cold. Cut blanched pale stem low down, with a little piece of root attached, when 4-8 in(10-20cm) long. Stop cutting in May. Take 3-4 shoots per established plant- this can be done annually.

Forcing Inside- Forcing seakale inside allows a prolonged cutting season. Lift plants over 18 months old in late fall, after the frosts. Remove any side roots of pencil thickness from crowns to make cuttings for replanting in spring. Store the crowns (plants) in sand until required for forcing over the winter. Force a few in 2-3 week intervals.

Plant 3 crowns in 9in. (27cm) flower pot, with the tops just showing, in a mixture of leaf mold and loam. Cover with an upturned bucket or flower pot. Keep in a cool place no less than 50F (10C): in 5 or 6 weeks the shoots will be ready to cut. After forcing the plants are exhausting, so discard. Seakale does not store.