Kale The ‘New’ Supper Green Garden Vegetable

Kale seems to have come out of know where and is quickly becoming one of American gardeners favorite green vegetables. Lettuce and spinach are being replaced by Kale as a favorite fresh salad and cooked table green.

Growing Kale Old Farmers Almanac said ” Kale likes Full Sun and grows best in a loamy soil with a neutral pH to slightly alkaline soil.”
Kale is a hardy, cool-season green that is part of the ‘cole’ 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. 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. Water the plants regularly but be sure not to over water them. Mulch the soil heavily after the first hard freeze.
The plants may continue to produce leaves throughout the winter. 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) 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, remove the large tough ribs before cooking.

Store kale as you would any other leafy green. Put kale in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator. It should last about 1 week.

Consider planting,
* ‘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, and it is frost tolerant.
* ‘Red Russian’, which has red, tender leaves and is an early crop.

Kale with Lemon and Garlic
Potato and Kale Soup Killer Kale salad thanks to Gardener Next Door blog.

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