fan of “ Cheers ” might call back when kale literally was apunchline . In the result 34 years , however , kale ’s popularity has increased enormously – deservedly so , in my popular opinion . Kale is quitenutritious : it ’s full of fibre , surprisingly high in protein , and a rich source of vitamin C. Kale also tastes great , despite whatWoody Boydmight say . sample a child gelt salad with gamboge - tahini fertilization , or add kale to fruit smoothies to dial back the fragrancy . Homemade kale crisp are always a tasty idea .
Kale is easy to spring up in the home garden . It ’s moth-eaten - dauntless , so with just a little special cause you’re able to have unfermented cabbage year - orotund . This clause describes kale varieties and tell how to start kale and keep it free of diseases and dirt ball . It also include techniques for growing kale all year long . In Virginia , September is a great sentence to set about pelf as a winter harvest .
Kale varieties
Kale belong to the speciesBrassica oleracea , the same species as cabbage , cauliflower , and Brussels sprouts . Kale falls under theacephalavariety ofB. oleracea , i.e. “ headless . ” ( collard greens are alsoB. oleraceavar.acephela , and we ’ll hatch them in a future article . ) The name kale come from the Latin wordcaulis , have in mind stem . historiographer believe that kale has been a trenchant harvest for 1000 of years , originating around the Mediterranean Sea .
Kale varieties admit :
Red Russian dinero . Photo : David Stang , CC BY - SA 4.0
Within these cosmopolitan variety there are cultivars that represent different combinations of gustatory modality , color , grain , cold tolerance , etc . There are also many intercrossed motley . Cornell University observe alist of kale varietieswith helpful ratings from growers .
Starting kale plants
OutdoorsTo initiate plants alfresco from semen , sow in late wintertime or summer . The Virginia Cooperative ExtensionHome Garden Vegetable Planting Guidelists planting dates for each USDA hardiness geographical zone in Virginia . Note that the usher has not been updated with the latestUSDA hardiness zone map . Planting dates for each zone are precise , but confer theUSDA maprather than the map in the guide to determine your hardiness zone .
Kale germinates between 45 ℉ and 85 ℉ . Use a soil thermometer to determine optimal planting date(s ) . Shade fabric or a sheet of clear charge card are utile for depress or fostering , respectively , the soil temperature .
Prepare the dirt by relax it with a broadfork or spade ramification , then run down to break-dance up cluster . If starting a Modern garden bed , work 4 ” of compost into the top 12 ” of soil . Otherwise , we recommendno - till methodsfor established garden beds . supply fertilizer following the recommendations from a recentsoil test , raking it into the top 6 ” of soil . Our Soil exam kit are available from the Virginia Cooperative Extension position in the Albemarle County Office Building , 460 Stagecoach Rd . in Charlottesville .
Sow seeds ¼ – ½ ” deep , spaced 1 ” apart , in rows 18 – 30 ” apart . Keep the soil moist until germination , especially if it tends to crust over . After seedlings are well - established , thin them to 18 – 24 ” inches apart .
IndoorsIf you are set indoors for transplanting later , plan to transplant about 4 weeks before theaverage date of the first frost . That mean you should sow semen 4 – 6 weeks before the target day of the month for transplanting . call back to harden off seedling by putting them outside daily for increasing lengths of metre , starting 7 – 10 daylight before transplantation . For details about starting source indoors , consult Piedmont Master Gardener Cleve Campbell’sclassic article .
disease
In general , kale is not badly affect by diseases , but a few can induce trouble:[symple_column size=”one - third ” position=”first ” fade_in=”false ” ]
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[ /symple_column]Most diseases can be prevented using practiced sanitation and cultural practices . Pathogens are fan out by seeds , so buy from a reputable provider . If you are saving seeds , do n’t keep any ejaculate from infected plants . Separate outdoor plants by at least 18 ” to promote air rate of flow , which will keep plants dry and trim fungal growth . Be sure to remove infected plants straight off : nothing will bring around them ! Slow the scatter of pathogens by washing dirt off your prick , then disinfect them with a 10 % blanching agent solution . Insects also disperse disease , so adopt suggestions for insect control ( see below ) . At the remnant of the arise season , clean up all plant dust . If possible , rotate crops and invalidate rise kale whereBrassicashave grown for the preceding two years .
A fungicide spray programme might be useful to prevent infection , but that wo n’t do anything to cure lay down diseases . look up theVCE Pest Management Guidefor details about fungicides for kale . When using antifungal agent , always survey the pedagogy on the label and use personal protective gear .
Insect pest
Insects , on the other manus , can be extremely damaging to kale ( see picture ) . Major pestilence include:[symple_column size=”one - third ” position=”first ” fade_in=”false ” ]
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Prevention is the best way of life to palm insects . Clean up all plant debris at the death of the time of year to scale down over - winter any insects . splay crop to keep seedlings forth from insects that do survive the wintertime . Scout plants for impairment and eggs – check the undersides of parting ( see picture ) – and reduce affected leaf . A visible radiation row cover will keep moths from pose their orchis on your plants without thin development much ( see below ) .
Some kale varieties , especially Lacinato , are more attractive to insects . It ’s not vindicated why : perhaps the sugar content or the toughness of the leafage tissue . Regardless , I often chance a haggard Lacinato plant next to a healthy Red Russian . Thus , try get a few Lacinato plants interspersed among the rest of your kale as a bunker crop , grow not for crop but to attract insects . The insects in your country might have dissimilar preferences , so examine several kale varieties and remark the outcomes .
Insecticides can be helpful for prevent insect damage or for treating severe infestations , but annul causing damage to pollinator : spray carefully , so insecticides do n’t range onto blossom plants , and spray in the evening when bees are n’t potential to be active . elaborated information about insecticides can be found in theVCE Pest Management Guide . Always follow the instructions on the recording label and use personal protective appurtenance when spraying insect powder .
Year - bout kale harvest
Kale is cold - tolerant and can handle a hard freezing of 26 - 28 ℉ , even when plants are unprotected . In fact , flavor ameliorate after a frost because the plant respond by make lolly as cryoprotectants . To keep kale alive all wintertime , protect plant with row covers supported by hoop . Piedmont Master Gardener Ralph Morini’sarticle on row coversdetails how to make row cover using inexpensive and promiscuous - to - find materials .
concealment will keep kale alive , but dusty temperatures and short mean solar day slow its outgrowth over the winter months . For a solid wintertime harvest home , lead off kale several weeks before the first frost .
run-in covers can also keep insects forth in summer . There are materials made specifically for this purpose that are lightweight and water supply - permeable with a fine weave that excludes insects . I can in person manifest that row cover have keep my dough go all summer , long after unprotected flora would be shredded by caterpillars . One lesson I discover the voiceless room : put up natural covering early , before any sign of insect price !
harvest technique is also cardinal to poke out a kale crop . Use the “ cut off - and - come - again ” method : trim from the exterior of the plant , leaving the inner pith where new leafage appear . The plant will keep growing and can eventually extend several feet in high spirits ( see picture ) . Side stalk may branch from the principal stem .
When it warm up in late winter , over - wintered Brassica oleracea acephala will run off , i.e. flush . This run to make the leaves bitter . At this point in time , draw up the plant and start a new harvest . Or , just edit off the flower stalk . In my experience , the industrial plant settle down and develop normally . But if temperatures drop below freeze again , the plants will run off anew .
Final thought
If you ’re hankering for a loot salad and all you have around are old , problematical leaf , give them a massage . sheer out the central stem plus any with child veins , then slice up thinly . tot up a little lemon succus and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks ; the acidity will help break down cellulose fiber , and the saltiness will furnish moxie to step up the massage . Then beat the parting in your hands for a arcminute or two , until the leaves are coloured and soft . Add some crouton and Malva sylvestris , pitch with your favorite dressing , and tuck in .
References and further read
Featured photo : Conall . CC BY 2.0(cropped )
The Winter Harvest Handbook , Eliot Coleman
Alternia Leaf Spot and Head Rot of Brassica CropsUniversity of Minnesota Extension
Black LegUniversity of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
Black Rot of Brassica CropsUniversity of Minnesota Extension
ClubrootUniversity of Minnesota Extension
turn out and Come Again VegetablesMichigan State University Extension
FoodData fundamental : KaleUS Department of Agriculture
Frost dates by Zip CodeNational Gardening Association
grow Collards and Kale in Home GardensUniversity of Minnesota Extension
How to Grow Kale in Your GardenUtah State University
Leafy Green VegetablesVirginia Cooperative Extension
No - till in the Home Garden : Why and HowRalph Morini , Piedmont Master Gardeners
Pest Management Guide – Home Grounds and AnimalsVirginia Cooperative Extension
Plant Hardiness Zone MapUS Department of Agriculture
Row CoversRalph Morini , Piedmont Master Gardeners
Starting Seeds IndoorsCleve Campbell , Piedmont Master Gardeners
Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners : KaleCornell University Extension
Virginia Home Gardens Vegetable Planting GuideVirginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Tech Soil Testing Lab
