The small, tender leaves can also be added raw to salads or smoothies. Cut and cook the larger leaves like spinach, but be sure to remove the tough ribs before steaming or stir-frying. Kale can also be substituted for spinach in omelets, casseroles, and quesadillas.
What do you do with an abundance of kale from the garden?
5 Ways to Eat Kale – or what to do with the rest of the bag of…
- Toss it with Pasta. Kale and pasta go together beautifully.
- Serve it in a Salad. Chop it up and toss it in with other salad veggies.
- Add Kale to Scrambled Eggs.
- Make Kale Chips.
- Easy Kale Skillet Side Dish.
When should I remove kale from my garden?
Kale is ready to pick approximately 60 days after seeds have been planted. At this point, healthy plants will have upwards of ten leaves, with small ones in the center and larger ones on the outside. If you’re looking to grow baby kale, plants will be ready to pick and enjoy in 25 to 30 days after they are sown.
Can you leave kale in the ground over winter?
Certain crops such as broccoli, cabbage, claytonia, kale, and spinach can easily survive through the winter without any protection. Other crops like arugula, leeks and lettuce often die when unprotected during periods of extreme winter cold.
How do you store kale for the winter?
All it takes is a quick blanch and a couple ofsteps in the freezer.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and prepare a large bowl of ice water.
- Dry the blanched kale thoroughly using a salad spinner or paper towels, then freeze the dry leaves flat on a rimmed baking sheet until frozen solid, 1 to 2 hours.
What’s the best way to preserve kale?
When you’re storing fresh kale, reduce excess moisture by waiting to rinse the leaves until you’re ready to eat them. You can store fresh kale that hasn’t been cut by wrapping the leaves in a paper towel, placing them in a plastic bag like Glad® FLEX’N SEAL™ Gallon Bags and squeezing out any extra air before sealing.
How long can you leave kale in the garden?
Kale will grow for up to 2 years in your garden. The first year of growth gives you plenty of delicious leaves. In the second year, your plants will focus on producing seeds. Grow your kale as annuals if you just want leaves from your plants.
Will kale grow back every year?
Although kale is normally grown as an annual plant, it is actually a biennial, which means it has a two-year life cycle. In its first growing season, your kale plant will produce lots of leafy green foliage. In USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10, it will keep producing new leaves throughout the winter.
Will kale regrow if cut back?
Kale can be pruned any time, but most gardeners who prune their kale do it when the yield is declining later into the season. Instead of removing the kale plants, they will just prune them so they can start growing back.
Will kale keep growing?
Kale is programmed to continue to produce leaves for some time. If you cut the stems or root, you’ll damage the plant and either stall or destroy any potential new growth. Instead, cut at the base of the leaves you want to pick in one session and leave everything else alone (new growth, stems, and roots included).
Should you let kale flower?
Those tiny flower buds that appear on your kale plants at the end of the season don’t necessarily mean the end of your crop. In fact, just the opposite: the florets are a bonus harvest you can eat, and they turn even sweeter if you’ve had frost.
What does kale look like when it’s ready to harvest?
You’ll know when it’s ready when it’s about 12 inches tall and the leaves are the size of your hand or bigger. Leaves that are the size of your palm are younger and more tender whereas the bigger leaves will be older and a bit tougher. Rest assured, both are delicious.
What do you do with kale in the winter?
Proper Care for Winter Gardens
- Keep Warm. Once the first light frost of the season is forecast, cover the plants completely with straw.
- Track Temps. Kale can be kept in the ground until soil temperatures reach 20°F.
- Fertilize, Feed, or Compost.
Can you harvest kale in winter?
In areas with mild winters, kale may be grown the entire season. In areas with freezing winter temperatures, start kale in late summer or late winter for a cool season frost before harvesting kale.
Can kale get too big?
If your Kale is towering you may need to harvest the leaves more often. If it is too tall, cut the plant four to five inches from the soil. This may seem very short but it is a great way for the plant to begin to grow again and prevents the stalk from becoming old and beginning to rot.
Is it better to freeze kale raw or cooked?
Blanching kale before freezing prevents the leaves from turning bitter, helps maintain their color and extends storage life. Blanched kale can be frozen for up to 6 months. To blanch kale, bring a large pot of water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water.
How do you store kale for long term storage?
Thoroughly dry the kale in a salad spinner or with paper towels. Spread the leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet, and place in the freezer for a couple of hours. Once frozen, pack them in a freezer bag or airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to eight months.
Does kale need to be blanched before freezing?
Directions: Kale can be frozen without blanching but should be used within 4 weeks. Blanching greens before freezing stops the naturally-occurring ripening enzymes in the leaves. This will ensure that the leaves taste fresh and will not develop a bitter taste.
How do you harvest and preserve kale?
Kale is one of the only greens that you can wash and prep days in advance—it’s so hardy that it rarely wilt. You can stem, slice or tear the leaves, rinse them, dry them well in a salad spinner or with kitchen towels, and store the leaves, wrapped in a paper towel in a zip-top plastic bag, for up to 3 days.
Can you freeze fresh kale and spinach?
You can freeze kale (and bagged spinach), so you can keep it on hand without it getting all gross and stinky in the back of your refrigerator. It’s incredibly simple to do, but if you’re new to freezing vegetables make sure keep reading to understand how to make the best use of your frozen kale (or spinach).
Does freezing kale destroy nutrients?
Fiber, minerals and fat-soluble nutrients such as beta-carotene and vitamin K are not easily destroyed by blanching or freezing, so just like fresh kale, frozen kale is loaded with these nutrients.