Growing kale-How To

Kale is a leafy vegetable that generally fall into the category of "Green Kitchen" with cabbage, mustard and chard. Sheets can be wrapped and very decorative, but become too difficult to eat fresh, as they age .growing kale Kale is a member of the cabbage family and is sensitive to many of the same pests.
You can reap the very young leaves to eat fresh in salads or allow plants to mature and used as a cooked vegetable. Harvest older leaves, removing the outer leaves and allowing large central continue producing plant. Kale is good during the summer months, but especially good after a frost.
If you need to store cabbage chosen, place in the refrigerator and keep it moist but not waterproof. It can maintain its freshness and for a week or two.

Pests:

Kale is relatively pest-free, but can be sensitive: black rot and club root and aphids, cabbage loopers, cabbage moths and beetles. The best defense is to provide the right conditions for growth and keep plants healthy.growing kale
Recommended varieties:

"Vats" from "Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch" very tolerant time (hot and cold) and tasty
Rapid growth "Hanover Salad" and early producer. Pleasant for free use.growing kale
"Lacrimation" kale A relic of Tuscany, with pursed thin sheets. Robust enough to harvest after a snowfall.
Cultural Notes:

growing kale:Kale prefers cooler temperatures and will be softened by a touch of frost. The optimum soil temperature is 60-65 degrees F. Hot weather turns sour cabbage.
Kale plants like to grow in a rich soil,growing kale rich in organic matter and slightly acidic (pH 5.5 to 6.5). You are more for the foliage, so that a high nitrogen content is good.

Kale can be sown directly in the garden or inside and started statement that transplants. Start plants indoors about 6 weeks before the last expected frost.growing kale Kale seeds germinate quickly in warm soil must be in 5-8 days.growing kale

Transplant the seedlings after all danger of frost. Set the plants about 16 separation "between plants.growing kale This gives them room to move and still allows air circulation.

growing kale:You can direct sowing in the cold spring, as soon as the soil can be worked and the soil temperature is at least 45 degrees F.growing kale Kale matures quickly, in about two months or more, if you prefer, you can start plants later, or even plant several crops in succession. In hot climates, kale can be planted in late summer / fall and spring. A winter harvest of cabbage in hot climates can be much milder than the summer harvest.

Cover the seeds with about ½ inch of land and not allow the seeds to dry before germinating. Plants grow more slowly than in the indoor outdoor under lights.growing kale

growing kale Maintenance: Keep your plants well watered kale .. With cooler temperatures, moist soil keeps the sweet and crunchy cabbage, rather than hard and bitter.growing kale dress during the next growing season with compost or feed with fish emulsion will keep your cabbage growth. Mulch is important to keep the soil cool.

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