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Kale is a healthy leafy green pack with vitamin A , B6 , K , calcium , and a mountain chain of other food . Did you cognize one serving of kale has over 500 percentage of the daily value of Vitamin K ? It ’s no wonderment this cabbage is becoming increasingly popular to turn .
There are , however , mixed review about how this vegetable try . If you ’re not a fan of cole , it could be because it lean to be bitter . When you grow and glean your own kale , there are a few tricks to follow to ensure sweeter greens .
Here ’s how to harvest boodle .
Materials Needed
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Before you start harvesting kale , you ’ll need some tools , include :
What is Kale?
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Kale is a penis of the Brassica family , related to tocabbage , brussels sprouts , and collard common . It is one of the most cold - hardy vegetable , making it easy to grow in cooler climates . There are many varieties to choose from : lacinato kale , red Russian borecole , Siberian moolah , and curly kale . Be sure to pick out one suited for your region , as some are more resistant of insensate climate than others .
Growing Kale
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Kale is a cool time of year harvest that is capable of withstandingfrosts . It can thrive in the spring or fall , but if you live in a hot climate , plant it in the fall for the best performance . A faint frost can actually enhance the flavor by increasing the sugar subject , cause the leaves less acid .
Kale is loose to produce from seed , and you could inseminate it directly into the garden . Plant in full Dominicus to fond tincture , in fertile , well - draining soil . To boom , kale pauperization regularwateringandfertilizer . Like other leafy greens , their shallow roots help themgrow tight . If regularly harvested , they will continue to produce throughout the time of year .
When to Harvest
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If you ’d like , you could get down harvesting kale as soon as the leaves start to organise , usually about 25 days . Baby kale , and other baby leafy Green River , is angelic and delicious . This is also a great manner to thin out your plant ( especially if they are getting crowded ) . Removing the outer leaves encourages new growth .
If you ’d like to hold back until your leave are matured to harvest them , folio color is the best indicator of their due date . They should be rich , shining unripened . The smaller , younger leaves in the kernel will be a lighter color . The leaves should also feel firm and be about the size of your bridge player . If you leave them too long , they can become toughened and acerbic . Kale can grow jolly fast , so glean on a regular basis to maximize yields .
How to Harvest
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Harvest kale honey oil using pruning shears or scissors to avoid causing damage to the root of the plant . Cut the outer leaf from the plant , maintain the cardinal dower inviolate . This is where new leaves form . A right dominion of thumb is to cut back ⅓ of the plant at a time .
Though many gardeners grow loot as an yearly , kale is a biennial . So if you are able tooverwinterit in your climate , you’re able to harvest from one industrial plant for up to two years . That ’s a lot of greens !
you could also glean the whole plant if you ’d care . burn the plant ’s stem near the soil to avoid harming nearby roots .
How to Harvest Bolting Kale
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Once kale flowers , the leaf will turn acerbic . Since boodle is a biennial , this should n’t pass off until the 2d year . However , if you planted your crops in other spring , you may experienceboltingearlier than anticipate .
If this happens , reap as many leave-taking as possible while they are still eatable . you could also reap and consume the flowers . Once your kale has bolt , the plant ’s lifecycle is over , and you ’ll require to replant to get more leave of absence .
How to Harvest Seeds
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Once the flowers fall off , long green seeds form on the stalks . Wait until they get going to dry out , turning a brown coloring before harvest home . Cut the stalking and place them upside down in a dark-brown report bagful until the seeds have to the full dry . Shake the seeds free of the stem , and place them in a dry , coolheaded container forstorage .
How to Store Kale
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Kale , like other leafy super acid , is extremely perishable once picked . In the fridge , it will stay good for 10 to 14 days . shop in an airtight container in the crisper .
For farseeing - term storehouse , consider freeze kale . It can keep for up to eight calendar month in a recondite freezer . Remove the leaf from the stems with a knife or by hand . Then , blanch and dry the leaf before freeze out them on a baking sheet for a couple of hours . Once they ’re frozen , you could keep them in a freezer bag . wintry wampum is first-class for sum up to smoothie , soup , or pasta .
Harvest All Year
Kale is easy to grow in most mood . Even in surface area with coke , you may originate kale incold framesorgreenhouses . If you survive in a hotter mood , kale will do best when planted in the spill . When given the right conditions , kale will continue to produce year - round .
