Before you begin, you’ll need to make sure that your kale plant is 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.
Does kale keep growing after you pick it?
Does kale regrow after picking? When kale is harvested carefully, it works as a cut and come again vegetable that grows back to regenerate its leaves for multiple harvests. For your kale to grow back, harvest the oldest leaves first—the ones on the outside of the plant at the base.
What to do with kale after you pick it?
So, let’s explore how to use kale in the kitchen:
- Kale chips– This healthy alternative to potato chips is simply addictive.
- Salads– Certainly the most traditional use of leafy greens is in salads.
- Soup– Add chopped kale to your favorite vegetable, potato, or bean soup recipe.
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.
How long will a kale plant last?
2-year
A biennial (2-year) plant, kale produces leaves in the first year, and then, in the next year (or sometimes late in the first year), it will form a flower stalk. The stalk forms flowers and then seeds. Once the seeds mature, the plant dies.
How big does a kale plant get?
1–2 ft. tall
From Seed to Leafy Greens Indoors or Outdoors
| Common Name | Kale, ornamental kale |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Brassica oleracea |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Plant Type | Annual, biennial, vegetable |
| Mature Size | 1–2 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide |
Is kale cut and come again?
Harvesting: Kale is a frost-hardy cut-and-come-again plant. Young leaves can be picked from autumn to mid-spring. Remove leaves with a sharp knife as required (mature or yellowing leaves won’t have the same bite).
Why is my kale bolting?
Kale can bolt the following spring when it overwinters in your garden. When the temperatures begin to warm it can send up a flower stalk because it is a biennial plant that produces flowers and seed the second year of its life cycle. The leaves will become more bitter when it bolts.
Can you eat kale raw?
Kale is a dark, leafy green you can eat raw or cooked. This superfood has been on dinner plates since Roman times and has long been common across much of Europe. The vegetable hails from the cabbage family, which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, and collards.
How do you store kale at home?
For a bunch of whole leaves, it’s all about avoiding excess moisture. Wrap the bunch of kale in a layer of paper towels, and store in a supermarket plastic bag or a zip-top plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer. The kale should be in great shape for a week.
How many seeds are in a kale hole?
Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days. Sow 3-4 seeds 5mm (¼”) deep in each spot you where a plant is to grow. Thin to the strongest plant.
Should kale be washed before refrigerating?
To store kale in the refrigerator:
Wash the kale by adding the kale leaves to a bowl of clean cold water and swish it around a little bit. Let it site for 10-15 minutes to remove any dirt of grit. You will then want to drain the kale from the water and remove any excess moisture by running it through a salad spinner.
How do you keep kale Crisp after picking?
How to Store Kale. Kale will store for two to three weeks at 32° to 34°F (0°-4°C) and 90 to 95 percent humidity (moist) with some air circulation. Wrap leaves in a moist cloth or paper towel and store them in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator; this will keep leaves from drying.
How long does kale last in ground?
For many months. You can pick spring-planted kale all summer, but leaves may get tough and bitter when heat arrives. Quality improves again in fall and plants continue growing even winter in mild climates. Frost makes them taste sweeter, and plants are cold-hardy at least to the low 20s.
Why is my kale plant so tall?
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.
When should I remove kale from my garden?
Harvest when leaves are about the size of your palm.
Fully matured kale leaves are about the size of your hand. Your kale plant will begin to produce leaves this size about 70 days after planting. Once the leaves are this size, your kale is ready and you should quickly harvest, as they’ll go bitter shortly after this.
What does bolting kale look like?
The classic signs of bolting kale plants are present. Instead of the kale leaves growing in a cluster near the ground, a leaf covered stalk with a broccoli-like flower bud has shot up from the center of the plant. Although this can be frustrating, you can learn how to stop kale-bolting from happening again.
Does kale need full sun?
One of the most nutritious shade loving vegetables around, kale thrives in just a few hours of sunlight per day. Kale is also extremely cold tolerant, making it a great crop for fall harvests.
Can you freeze kale?
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. Blanched kale will last up to 1 year in the freezer.
How tall should I let my kale grow?
Before you begin, you’ll need to make sure that your kale plant is 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.
How often do you water kale?
Kale prefers fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Water kale deeply and infrequently while trying to maintain even soil moisture. About one to two inches of water are required per week. Use drip irrigation if possible to conserve water.