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EmailBotanical name: Brassica oleracea acephala
Plant type: Vegetable
Sun exposure: Full Sun
Soil type: Loamy
Soil pH: Neutral to Slightly Alkaline
Bloom time: Varies
Kale is a hardy, cool-season green that is part of the cabbage family. It grows best in the spring and fall and can tolerate all fall frosts. Kale can be used in salads or as a garnish and is rich in minerals and vitamins A and C.
Planting
- You can plant kale anytime from early spring to early summer. If you plant kale late in the summer you can harvest it from fall until the ground freezes in winter.
- Mix 1-1/2 cups of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 25 feet of row into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil.
- Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep into well-drained, light soil.
- After about 2 weeks, thin the seedlings so that they are spaced 8 to 12 inches apart.
Care
- Water the plants regularly but be sure not to overwater them.
- Mulch the soil heavily after the first hard freeze; the plants may continue to produce leaves throughout the winter.
Pests
Harvest/Storage
- Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand.
- Pick about one fistful of leaves per harvest. Avoid picking the terminal bud (found at the top center of the plant) because this will help to keep the plant productive.
- The small, tender leaves can be eaten uncooked and used in salads.
- Cut and cook the larger leaves like spinach, but be sure to remove the ribs before cooking.
- You can store kale as you would any other leafy green; put the kale in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator. It should last about 1 week.
Recommended Varieties
- 'Vates', which is a hardy variety and does not yellow in cold weather. It also has curly, blue-green leaves.
- 'Winterbor', which resembles the 'Vates' variety, but it is frost tolerant.
- 'Red Russian', which has red, tender leaves and is an early crop.
Recipes
Wit & Wisdom
The chill of a moderate frost or light snow improves the flavor of kale.
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Comments
By Anonymous on May 19
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I planted Winterbor Kale April 16th it is growing wonderfully. Maturity is 55-60 days but in the next few days the temp. will reach above 80 degrees. Can I begin harvesting now before it gets too hot and the leaves get bitter?
By Anonymous on May 14
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I just planted some curly kale plants. I keep reading that it is a cool weather plant. Is it too hot in the summer to grow kale?
By Almanac Staff on May 16
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Yes, kale is a cool-season vegetable that is grown primarily in spring and fall. For good taste, kale is best harvested before summer heat or after frost in the fall to avoid bitter leaves.
By Anonymous on May 6
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Do you just cut off what you need each time and leave the plant to keep regrowing or do you harvest the whole thing and it is done?
By Almanac Staff on May 16
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With kale, you can harvest the outer leaves when they are mature and allow the smaller inner leaves to keep growing.
By Anonymous
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Once the plant has gone to flower, should it be cut back ?
By Almanac Staff
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Yes, your plant has bolted and it is the end of its lifestyle. It is probably too warm now. Replace this cool weather vegetable with a new plant.
By Anonymous
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If you keep it from flowering, it will keep producing leaves. Pinch or cut the buds off.
By Anonymous
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Can kale be frozen, hopefully?
By Almanac Staff
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Yes, you can freeze kale. Wash it and cut off stems. Blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes, then submerge in ice water. Spin in salad spinner and dry. Then, place on parchment paper on a cookie sheet or flat surface. Put in freezer until frozen. Then, you can shake into an airtight container.
By Anonymous
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http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-kale-chips/
kale chips are amazing ive been eating these for years.
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