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October 18, 2009
Put the "Ah" in Autumn
Master Gardener Column 10/17/09
There's a chill in the air. The wind softly rustles the leaves around in the yard. The pots and flower beds look rough and will soon look bare. The perennials have run their course, and the annuals have suffered a season ending freeze. This is the time of year we fear that we have no color until spring, which makes for a long winter.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Fall for many people is a favorite time of year because of its full of color. If the weather doesn't turn cold fast, all lovers of fall will get to enjoy the color of the leaves changing. It is our last hurrah of the season, similar to the finale of a good fireworks show. Fall is also time to enjoy the wonderful rustic colors of mums and asters that scream autumn.
Our two old friends, pansies and violas, are also ready for an encore. For most of us, these two called it a season in the mid summer months because they just don't like the summer heat. They also brought us into this great season, and they are going to lead us into winter. Don't worry they will come back and welcome us into the coming spring.
Even with all of the wonderful colors of fall we are a little limited in variety of eye candy we have in the garden. I'm talking something that truly deserves the right of being called centerpiece. That is where ornamental cabbage and kale come in to save the day, as with Batman and Robin. Both ornamental cabbage and kale are members of the Brassica or mustard family which includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, cauliflower, rutabagas, and turnips, and, of course, regular cabbage and kale.
Ornamental cabbage and kale are both edible. Because they are bitter most people limit them to decorative planting because of their wonderful presence in the yard. If that isn't enough to scare you off, I even read that cooked ornamental kale it turns gray. Yikes!
Ornamental cabbage and kale are underrated in the uniqueness and wonderful color they put out. The colors range from purples with pink centers, green with white centers, purple with royal purple centers, and on to much more. The colder it gets the more intense the colors get, kicking down the door of color, if you would. Their ruffled edges make them a wonderful addition to any garden. They are good to around 5 degrees as long as it is a gradual drop in temperatures. They are more than likely going to last up to at least Thanksgiving.
Cabbage and kale are very similar in appearance except that the kale seems to be a little more on the frilly side and the leaves are narrower. Cabbage is also usually edged on the outside of the leaf with an accent color. Cabbage and kale like full sun and rich, well-drained soil. If they are planted in part shade, they tend to get leggy.
In the landscape these guys can be planted in separate blocks or grouped together. When planted in a group, they look very sharp. They are also a great accent plant when used with pansies, violas, mums, and asters.
Cabbage and kale can really spice up a fall container planting. They can even be used alone. Nothing says KA POW like using them as a centerpiece with violas and/or pansies around the edges. They look equally as good with mums and asters. One of my favorites for container gardening is using a one gallon cabbage as the centerpiece and two little 4" cabbage on the side and violas to finish off the pot.
Time to think outside of the box. Ornamental cabbage and kale are fantastic when displayed with pumpkins or hay as an outdoor fall decoration. Add some rust colored mums and/or asters, and you have yourself an outdoor setting that screams autumn. So the next time that you are searching for fall color remember that ornamental cabbage and kale put the "ah!" in autumn.
Art Escobedo is a co-owner of Viola's Flower Garden. Dana Prom Smith, a Master Gardener volunteer and coordinating editor of the Master Gardener Column for Coconino County Cooperative Extension, can be contacted at stpauls@npgcable.com. For more information about the Master Gardener Program, call Hattie Braun, Coordinator of the Master Gardener Program, at 774-1868 ext.17 or visit our Web Site: highelevationgardening.arizona.edu.
Posted by maxmaddy at October 18, 2009 5:05 AM