You can call these plants Portuguese cabbages (Couve
tronchuda) or you can call them Portuguese kale plants. The truth lies
somewhere between the two. So, what is Portuguese cabbage? Read on for
information on this leafy green crop, the most popular vegetable in Portugal.
We’ll also give you tips on Portuguese cabbage planting.
What is Portuguese Cabbage?
Portuguese cabbage is a leafy green vegetable in the brassica
family. Unlike most cabbages,
this vegetable doesn’t form heads and grows in leaves like kale. That resulted
in the alternate common name of Portuguese kale plants.
However, unlike kale,
the leaves of this green vegetable, as well as the mid rib and stalk, are
fleshy and succulent. Kale ribs and stalks are often too woody to eat. Many
compare this veggie to collards.
Tronchuda Cabbage Uses
Those growing this cabbage plant sometimes call the
vegetable tronchuda cabbage, using its species name. Whatever you call it,
you’ll find plenty of uses for it. First, these are the key ingredients in
Caldo Verde, a green soup considered by many to be the national dish of
Portugal. It’s easy to find recipes for this soup online. It includes onions,
garlic,
and spicy sausages.
You can also cook and eat this veggie in the same way you
would collard greens. It cooks quickly and works well in any soup and in stir
fries. It is so tender that you can even use it in salads or as wraps.
Growing Portuguese Cabbage
If you are ready to try growing Portuguese cabbage, you will
be able to find seeds online on several seed sites. Planting can be done in the
fall or spring. In either case, you can start the seeds in pots about six weeks
before the planting date.
Transplant your best seedlings into the garden around the
first of fall or mid-spring. After that, growing these cabbages is amazingly
easy and trouble free. You can expect to harvest your first leaves a few months
later. This vegetable can survive hot summers in appropriate zones.
Look out for cabbage
worms. If you don’t want to use pesticides,
just inspect the leaves regularly and pluck out any worms you see. You might
also have birds eager to eat this green veggie so cover the plants with a
lightweight row cover cloth.
You can call these plants Portuguese cabbages (Couve
tronchuda) or you can call them Portuguese kale plants. The truth lies
somewhere between the two. So, what is Portuguese cabbage? Read on for
information on this leafy green crop, the most popular vegetable in Portugal.
We’ll also give you tips on Portuguese cabbage planting.
What is Portuguese Cabbage?
Portuguese cabbage is a leafy green vegetable in the brassica
family. Unlike most cabbages,
this vegetable doesn’t form heads and grows in leaves like kale. That resulted
in the alternate common name of Portuguese kale plants.
However, unlike kale,
the leaves of this green vegetable, as well as the mid rib and stalk, are
fleshy and succulent. Kale ribs and stalks are often too woody to eat. Many
compare this veggie to collards.
Tronchuda Cabbage Uses
Those growing this cabbage plant sometimes call the
vegetable tronchuda cabbage, using its species name. Whatever you call it,
you’ll find plenty of uses for it. First, these are the key ingredients in
Caldo Verde, a green soup considered by many to be the national dish of
Portugal. It’s easy to find recipes for this soup online. It includes onions,
garlic,
and spicy sausages.
You can also cook and eat this veggie in the same way you
would collard greens. It cooks quickly and works well in any soup and in stir
fries. It is so tender that you can even use it in salads or as wraps.
Growing Portuguese Cabbage
If you are ready to try growing Portuguese cabbage, you will
be able to find seeds online on several seed sites. Planting can be done in the
fall or spring. In either case, you can start the seeds in pots about six weeks
before the planting date.
Transplant your best seedlings into the garden around the
first of fall or mid-spring. After that, growing these cabbages is amazingly
easy and trouble free. You can expect to harvest your first leaves a few months
later. This vegetable can survive hot summers in appropriate zones.
Look out for cabbage
worms. If you don’t want to use pesticides,
just inspect the leaves regularly and pluck out any worms you see. You might
also have birds eager to eat this green veggie so cover the plants with a
lightweight row cover cloth.