My favorite is Lacinto Kale or Dinosaur Kale or Black Kale. It's known by a handful of different names. I'm not sure I can really describe the flavor but I find it mild. I've read it described as sweeter and more delicate than other varieties (whatever that means).

Thank you!! I will put Lacinato on my fall garden list. I'm hoping to have enough greens to carry me through the winter (I'm going to blanch and freeze the extras). I have enough room to experiment with a few different kale varieties. I'm really looking forward to it!

Sounds great sherilou! What other greens do you save? Last year I had a surplus on spinach so I blanched and saved those. This is my second year gardening more than a few veggies. I planted some of the Lacinto kale and Swiss chard. I also have some lettuce and some Asian greens (baby bok choy and gai lan).

This is my first year of gardening (I volunteer garden for seniors)! I have planted Red Russian (also known as Ragged Jack), a Dwarf Curled Vates variety of Kale and Georgia Collards. I read that the Georgia Collards taste buttery-delicious when they are young and that they're a closer relation to kale than other varieties of collards. I'm going to plant a two more varieties of kale, because I have two senior friends who love greens. Let me know how you like the Asian greens!! Thanks tastyravels!

I actually grew the larger bok choy last year and loved it. I love adding it to stir fries (simple). Another simple meals is to stir fry them with a little oil, garlic and ginger. I add some leftover chicken (rotissere works well) and add some chicken broth. It's yummy!!

This year I'm trying the gai lan (Chinese broccoli). I read that you harvest when they're about 6-8 inches tall by cutting the stalks. Then they'll grow back and you can harvest at least 2 more times. Sounded like a great bargain! These I prepare Chinese style with oyster sauce but you could use them like broccoli or raab. Yummy!

I love that you volunteer garden for seniors. What a great way to give back!!

I'm hungry now that i've read your post! Do you remember the variety of the larger bok choy from last year? Let me know how you like the gai lan. I sent you an email regarding a possible trade as well. :)

It was the larger white bok choy. This is a pics of it:
http://shop.simplyhydro.com/Cabbage-Chinese--Bok-Choy-Lilly-Miller_p_1194.html

It was easy to grow and yummy! I will check my email now.

Aloha Sherilou- 'Couve tronchuda', also called Portuguese cabbage, has the most delicious flavored and beautiful giant leaves. It could be called a kale or collard. It doesn't head up, and keeps growing for years, weather permitting. I never even cared about cabbage until I tasted this. Makes your garden look like something out of Alice in Wonderland, visitors always commented on it first.

Mahalo Lynnonolena! Couve Tronchuda sounds like my kind of green. :) I'll definitely give it a try. Thank you for the excellent description!