Two months after starting to plant our kale harvestIt was time to pick it up. We’ll explain when and how to harvest kale, as well as some of the main care this crop needs at this time.
When to harvest kale
As we have seen in the previous article and videos, where I explain the process of sowing and the start of cultivation, the ideal is to plant at the end of summer, because it works perfectly as autumn harvest and adapts very well to temperate climates.
In my case, given the particular climate of my region, I started a little earlier, but let’s say that in general it can be done at the end of the summer, so around mid-autumn we would start harvesting the kale.
Cabbage Kale Nero di Toscana
- Plant that reaches between 50 and 60 cm in height
- With characteristic curly green leaves
- Provides nutritional contribution
- Sowing from March to July
This does not mean that it cannot be planted at any time of the year, but that in general there are far fewer crops that can be planted in autumn and winter and that is the one of those who can. I recommend that you consult the planting calendaras well as recent articles on what to plant in november Yes what to plant in december.
Planting in summer and spring also runs the risk of the cabbage ending in flower. And as if that were not enough, when planting in autumn, we can use the terraces that we used in previous spring and summer crops, and rotate the crops.
frost on kale
As I explain in the video, the frost can also help give us the signal for harvest, because in addition to indicating the weather, they help the cabbage itself to sweeten its flavor.
And as we said at the beginning, it is approximately after 2 months or 2 and a half months that we will start harvesting the kale.
How to harvest kale
Unlike other cabbages, the leaves can be picked little by little, from the lower leaves to the upper ones. The plant will grow taller. As I show in the video, harvesting this plant is very easy, and we don’t need anything more than our hands.
If some of the leaves are spoiled don’t worry they can still be eaten or if you have chickens they love them. It is certainly one of feeds that can be fed to chickens. Since we are here and in case you have any doubts about it, I recommend the post on these foods that should NOT be fed to chickens.
We will collect the leaves in stages, and only those that we are going to consume, although if we want we can keep them in the refrigerator, they will always keep better and retain many more properties in the plant itself.
Irrigation and fertilizer
After our first kale leaves are harvested, we provide nitrogen-rich irrigation so that our plant and its leaves grow bigger and better. In my case, I use the nettle porridge, but it can be any other natural fertilizer. We will do this irrigation every 20 or 30 days, while we will do the staggered harvest every 5 or 6 days.
Association
The association of cultures it can be interesting in this case too. can associated potatoes with kale, for example, because they are complementary plants. Kale and other sprouts have shallow root systems and do not compete with the deeper roots of potatoes.
Benefits of Kale
There are many reasons to plant and then harvest kale from the garden. Starting with its richness in nutrients. Kale is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and dietary fiber. It also contains antioxidants, which help fight free radicals that cause premature aging, chronic disease, and degenerative diseases.
In addition, it is very low in calories and is a good source of fiber. And it’s good to keep in mind that when harvesting kale, we’ll have a huge source of omega-3 fatty acids on our hands, which help lower cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular disease.
All this means that this vegetable is often considered, and not without reason, as a superfood.
How many kale plants do we need?
This will vary depending on the number of people who will consume it, but for a family of 4 or 5 people, about 6 plants, as in my case, will be more than enough.
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