Sea Kale Seeds
Wild coastal perennial — blanched shoots like the finest asparagus
Sea kale is one of Ireland's most spectacular native edible plants — a dramatic perennial with blue-grey leaves that grows wild on shingle beaches around the coast. The blanched spring shoots, forced under a pot or bucket, produce a delicacy that was served in the finest Georgian and Victorian dining rooms.
The flavour is somewhere between asparagus and hazelnuts, with a cabbage-family earthiness. Plants live for 20+ years and are completely hardy. The white flower heads in summer attract pollinators.
Sea kale needs patience — it takes 2–3 years to establish before you can start harvesting. But once established, a single plant will produce forced shoots every spring for decades.
Species Included
Crambe maritima (Sea Kale)
Sowing Instructions
Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. Sow autumn (September–November) outdoors — needs cold stratification. Or sow in spring after 6 weeks in the fridge. Plant out 60cm apart in well-drained, sandy soil. Harvest forced shoots from year 3. Cover crowns with a bucket in February to blanch.
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