The kale family is a genus of plants in the cruciferous family Brassicaceae. Kale vegetables originated in the Mediterranean coast, is the evolution of wild kale. After a long period of selection and breeding to form the knot ball kale, bulb kale, hold the son of kale, kale and other species and varieties. Kale vegetables into China's cultivation has more than a hundred years of history, due to the variety, variety diversity, adaptability, cultivation is easy, high yield, good quality, so all over the universal cultivation. Knotty kale is referred to as kale, also known as cabbage, cabbage, lotus cabbage, to the leaf ball for food, is the most cultivated vegetables in the class of kale, is one of the bulk of vegetables in Sichuan. Utilizing different conditions, sowing in rows and harvesting in stages, it can be supplied almost annually. Knotty kale per 100 grams of edible parts containing thiamin, riboflavin 0.4 mg each, 0.3 mg of niacin, vitamin C39 mg, calcium 100 mg, is a high nutritional value of vegetables.

(1) types and varieties

①Types of kale According to the color and traits of the leaf ball can be divided into white ball kale, red ball kale and wrinkled leaf kale, China's cultivation of the Department of white ball kale; according to the maturity of the maturity period can be divided into early maturing species, medium maturity and late maturing species. According to the shape of the leaf ball can be divided into flat head, round head and pointed head 3 types, generally according to this method of classification is more.

Flat-head type: larger plants, open leaves, leaf bulb flattened and rounded, shortened mid-column, good quality, high yield, generally late-maturing species.

Round head type: plant medium, less open, leaf ball is round head type, generally for the early maturing species and medium maturing species, the yield is not as high as the flat head type, in the south of the overwintering cultivation, prone to pre-emergence of shoots, cultivation is less.

The pointed head type: the plant is smaller, the leaf ball is heart-shaped, the leaf blade is long egg-shaped, the center rib is thick, the center column is longer, early maturity, lower yield, can be used for spring kale cultivation.

②Sichuan cultivation of the main varieties of kale

Early maturing varieties: the main chicken heart, cow heart, summer light, Chun Lei, Xiang You 5, in Gan 11, in Gan 12. In addition, for spring cultivation of early maturing varieties of kale and Chunfeng, Suchen 1, for autumn cultivation of early maturing varieties of kale in Gan 8, summer king, Vuqiqiu 56 kale and so on.

Middle and late-maturing varieties: there are mainly two Wuye, Jingfeng 1, Xiyuan 3, Xiyuan 4, Xiangyou 4, Zhonggan 9 and so on.

In addition, suitable for fall cultivation, there are Xiyuan 2, Ganzai 3, Xiangyou 3 kale and so on. It is also suitable for fall and winter cultivation, such as Late Fung, Zhonggan 13.