All varieties of this vegetable are harvested in the same way. For mature plants, grasp the stem of a mature outer leaf at the base of the main stalk and pull down and out, away from the center, until it breaks. Repeat this process to pick all the greens you want.
How do you pick kale so it keeps growing?
Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand. Pick about a fistful of outer leaves per harvest, but no more than one-third of the plant at one time. Avoid picking the terminal bud (at the top center of the plant), which helps to maintain the plant’s productivity.
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.
How often can you harvest kale?
It’s important to regularly harvest your kale. If you let leaves die on the plant, the plant will be discouraged to continue to produce growth. Return every 5-7 days to reap your new harvest and be sure to remove fully mature leaves every time.
What happens when kale bolts?
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.
Is kale a cut and come again crop?
As you’ve probably already gleaned, the cut and come again method can be (and should be!) used for classic leafy greens like kale. We continually harvest this way from our swiss chard, mustard greens, bok choy, collard greens, lettuce, arugula, and the many types of Asian greens we love to grow as well.
Does kale come back every year?
Does kale come back every year? Most kales are biennials, meaning they will take around two years from seedling before they eventually bolt and produce flowers and seeds. However, if you’re growing kale for its harvest of leaves it’s more likely that you’ll replace it every year and it will be more successful that way.
Is curly 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.
How long will a kale plant live?
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.
Should I cut the flowers off kale?
Should you cut the flowers off kale? Once your kale plant is flowering, cutting off the flowers will not stop the process of bolting. Your plant is at the end of its life cycle and focusing its energy on producing seeds for the next generation of plants.
Can I freeze kale?
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).
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 is cut and come again?
Cut-and-come-again gardening refers to harvesting just the older outer leaves of leafy green vegetables and allowing the center of the plant to continue sending out new leaves. It’s an easy way to have a succession of harvests without having to succession plant.
What can I do with kale from my garden?
10 Ways to Love Kale Mor More
- Massage it in a salad.
- Make kale chips.
- Pair it with nuts.
- Try dinosaur kale.
- Throw it in the soup.
- Make it the green in “a grain, a green, and a bean.”
- Put kale in a burger.
- Put it in a green smoothie.
When should I prune kale?
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.
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.
Why is my garden kale bitter?
That’s because crushing the leaves breaks down the cell walls of two important chemicals naturally present in kale—the myrosinase enzyme and glucosinolates. When those walls deteriorate, the two chemicals interact and create a new, bitter compound that’s biologically designed to fend off hungry enemies.
Is bolted kale OK to eat?
Even after the leaves have turned bitter, the flowers the plant produces are pretty tasty, and can be eaten like you would broccoli florets. If you end up with more leaves than you can use in one meal, toss them into a plastic bag and store them in the dehumidifier drawer of your refrigerator.
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.
Can you eat bolted kale leaves?
You can eat the stalks if you wish, they are hard and difficult to chew, so take some cooking! Alternatively, add to stocks for extra flavour and vitamins. With care, annual kale will keep cropping for two years or more.
Does kale like full sun?
Kale grows best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade as well. Plants that receive fewer than 6 hours of sun daily will not be as stocky or leafy as those that get ample sun, but they will still be plenty edible! Like collards, kale likes fertile soil to grow fast and produce tender leaves.
Marilyn Medina is a food expert with over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry. She has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world, including The Ritz-Carlton and The French Laundry.
What makes Marilyn stand out from other chefs is her unique approach to cooking. She believes that food should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget or dietary restrictions. Her recipes are simple, delicious, and healthy – perfect for anyone who wants to cook like a pro!