In message , danw
writes
Hi all,

I have successfully grown a number of Cavolo Nero plants this year and
they appear to be doing well. What I am unsure of is what sort of size
they should be before I try harvesting the leaves.

I tried pulling a few leaves this evening and they didn't come away
easily. Should they? Will I need to cut them?

Also, any idea on what size they will grow to? The packet of seeds I
bought was Italian and had very little in the way of written
information on it.

Think kale; 45 - 60cm between plants is a typical recommendation. I've
always cut, rather than pulled, the leaves (and, in spring, the
flowering stalks), a few at a time, starting late August/early September
from a late April/early May sowing. But I'm sure you can start cutting
earlier if the leaves seem big enough and you don't take too many. They
can get pretty tough, I find.
--
Max Wright
www.wys-systems.demon.co.uk/plotcrop