Sea Kale Forcer
A traditional tool from the great kitchen gardens of England, the sea kale forcer is used to produce tender, blanched shoots of one of the most prized vegetables of the Victorian garden.
Sea kale (Crambe maritima) was once a celebrated early-spring delicacy, grown in coastal gardens and country estates throughout Britain. Gardeners discovered that covering the crowns with tall clay forcing pots excluded light and encouraged the plant to produce pale, tender shoots weeks before the natural growing season.
Placed over the dormant crown in late winter, the forcer creates a sheltered environment that encourages early growth while blanching the emerging shoots. The result is a delicately flavored vegetable—similar to asparagus but milder and more succulent—that was once considered a highlight of the spring table.
Each sea kale forcer is hand-thrown in traditional terracotta and designed to function just as these garden tools have for generations. The removable lid allows gardeners to check growth or harvest shoots without removing the entire pot.
Over time the clay will weather naturally outdoors, developing the soft patina that has long been part of the charm of historic garden pottery.
- Handthrown by Peter in Rockdale, Wisconsin
- Traditional red terracotta, fired to 2100° F.
- Frostproof from delamination due to temperatures below freezing. However, care should be taken that the pot is not left outside during winter where snow and ice could collect around the rim, causing it to crack due to thermal expansion during the freeze/thaw cycle.
- For outdoor use, but should be stored inside during winter months to ensure maximum years of use.
