Delaway Cabbage

Delaway Cabbage (also known as Delaway Kale) is a sweet, tender, and cold-hardy Irish Heirloom cut and come again variety with bluish green leaves and purple stems. According to Seed Savers Exchange Delaway was given to Owen Hughes of County Mayo, Ireland by a neighbor who had brought it from America before the 1930s. We sourced our original seed from The Irish Seed Savers organization, who got the seed from the Hughes family and has been helping preserve the tender-leaved regional variety.

*NOTE: Some people claim that this variety is Brassica oleracea, which it may be! Keep this in mind when saving seeds.

Days to maturity: 50-60 from transplant

Seeds per pack: 100

Germination rate: 88% on 10/10/2023

Planting / harvesting notes

Either start indoors or direct sow. Sow seeds 1/4" deep in potting soil 4-8 weeks before the last frost, and transplant 1-2' apart just before the last frost. In Fall, We direct sow our seeds 1/4" deep every few inches, and cover with hoops and plastic row covers. In the Spring, we thin the plants to one every 12-18" (24" for seed production), eating the thinnings. Regularly harvest these delicious leaves when young and tender!

Seed keeping notes

Isolate by 1/2 mile from other flowering members of B. napus, including Rapeseed, Swedes, Rutabagas, Siberian Kale, and Canola to avoid unwanted cross-pollination. NOTE: Several people think this is Brassica oleracea, which it very well may be! Allow seed pods to turn brown and dry before seed harvest. Protect from birds.