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Common Name: Seacale

General Information

Crambe maritima is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Atlantic coast of Europe, including Britain, along the Baltic coast and around the Black Sea.

Habitat

Coastal sands, shingle, rocks and cliffs near the sea, often on the drift line[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in a good loam and an open sunny position[, , ] but also tolerating some shade[]. Prefers a slightly alkaline soil in a position sheltered from strong winds[] (this report totally conflicts with the plants native habitat which is on sea shores - we have found this species to be very tolerant of strong maritime winds though it does not like cold northerlies much[]). Tolerates poor soil and some shade[]. Dislikes acid[] and very stiff soils[]. Prefers a rich , well-drained very deep sandy loam and a pH of 7[, ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
This species is hardy to about -20°c[], it grows best in a cool maritime climate[].
Seakale is sometimes cultivated for its edible young shoots in the spring which are blanched by excluding light in order to make them less bitter[, ]. Two or three crops can usually be harvested each year[]. There are some named varieties[]. The roots are sometimes brought into a greenhouse in the winter and grown on there in order to produce an early crop of shoots[].
A deep-rooted and very long-lived plant[, ], it dislikes root disturbance[].
The seed is dispersed by seawater, on which it can float for several days without loss of viability[].
A good bee plant[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked like spinach[, , , , ]. They have a pleasant almost nutty flavour and go well in a mixed salad[]. They also make a very pleasant cooked vegetable[]. Older leaves develop a bitterness and are not so pleasant[].
Young shoots - raw or cooked[, , , , ]. Available in the spring, they have a delicate nutty flavour with a crisp texture[, ]. The shoots are usually blanched and can be cooked like asparagus[, ]. When properly cooked they retain their crispness and have a very agreeable flavour, somewhat like hazelnuts but with a slight bitterness[].
Root - cooked. Rich in starch and sugars[].
Young flower buds - raw or cooked[]. The flowering shoots are harvested when about 10 - 15cm long and before the flowers have opened. Used like sprouting broccoli, they are quite nice raw and delicious when lightly steamed[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Plants can be used for ground cover when spaced about 60cm apart each way[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a seedbed outdoors and either thin the plants out or move them to their permanent positions when about 10cm tall[]. Plants can be cropped once they are more than 12 months old[]. The young plants are very attractive to slugs so some protection will often be needed.
Germination can be slow so it is best to sow the seed in pots in a cold frame[]. Germination usually takes place in 3 - 26 weeks at 15°c[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions when they are at least 10cm tall.
Division in spring or autumn[, ]. Dig up the root clump and cut off as many sections as you require, making sure they all have at least one growing point. The larger of these divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions, though small ones are best potted up and grown on in a cold frame until they are established.
Root cuttings, 3 - 10 cm long, in spring[]. These can be planted straight into the open ground or you can pot them up in the greenhouse and plant them out once they are growing strongly.