Growing the Sweetest Kale
- Lake
- Dec 18, 2017
- 2 min read
Kale has long been associated with California. That's only because too much of the US's food is grown there. Although it tastes surprisingly good for shipped food, it tastes so much better from your own garden. But first you need to know the basics, along with a few tips, and you'll be harvesting the rarest kale from your own backyard.
As I mentioned in a previous post, Dinosaur Kale, or Lacinato Kale, tastes like broccoli leaves. It's really good. I have a special fondness for blue kale. There are so many colors. But I'll tell you about other types in another post.
Lets dive into the basics.
You can either buy transplants, start from seed indoors, or direct sow outside.
Transplants
Transplant them when they have at least 2 real leaves, but less than 5, they need a minimum of 1 gallon container each. Certain types get pretty big but they all need room for their roots.
Make Your Own Transplants by Starting Seeds Indoors
Start them 5 weeks prior to needing them, you don't want them to be root bound.
Direct Sow In your Garden
Direct sow them in spring 2-4 weeks prior to last frost or in late summer with plans to harvest after a light frost, they taste sweeter after cold weather sets in.
Container Farming
If you are growing in containers keep in mind they do best with 6 hours of light a day (full sun), but you can get a respectable plant with only 4-6 hours of light (light shade).
As I said above the flavor is the best after cool weather sets in, but never store in the fridge brassicas retain their medicinal anti-cancer properties when eaten fresh. So, harvest only what you need.