I’ve learned a little bit more recently about the root cause of aphid infestations being linked to excess nitrogen in the soil and plant tissue, but even when we have planted kale or cabbage in beds that have had no additional nitrogen added, we are still struggling with intense aphid pressure.
I’m curious if any of you have experience on working with kale and resistance to aphids? Or anything related?
I’m keen to start working on a landrace kale project, but I’m just not sure if aphid susceptibility is more closely linked to a kale plant just being a kale plant, or if it has more to do with soil and the environment.
Any and all thoughts would be greatly appreciated. thank you!
In 2018 I bought perennial kale seeds from the Experimental Farm Network. It was developed by Chris Homanics, using ‘Purple Tree Collard’ and ‘Daubenton’ kale which were crossed to a variety of other kales, some Pacific Northwest & West Coast perennial kales, along with cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Redbor kale, and more.
I’m working on a kale landrace, too! I’m throwing everything Brassica oleracea, rapa, and napus that looks good into the mix and then saving seeds from whatever’s tasty, especially if it’s perennial.
I am finding that I get an awful lot of scale aphids during the summer, which is a nuisance, but they don’t seem to impede the best plants’ growth much, and I wait to eat the leaves until wintertime anyway (during which time there are no aphids), so I’ve decided not to worry too much about it.
That’s awesome! Yeah, aphids in the summer are a struggle. I’m hoping to find varieties that seem a little more resistant. I guess kale is truly a cool-weather crop.