Kale is often considered a health food first and foremost. If you have any “active lifestyle” or fitness friends you know they just won’t shut about the benefits of kale. They’re right though, kale is high in fiber, vitamin k, and iron. It can be good for digestion and though this isn’t as beneficial as people actually believe, it is loaded with antioxidants. If this all sounds good to you and you can enjoy the taste, kale might be a great addition to your garden.
Kale Details
- Family: Brassicaceae
- Growing Season: Spring and Fall
- Growing Zones: 3 through 10
- Spacing: 12-18 inches (30-46 cm) apart
- Seed to Harvest time: 50 to 55 days
- Indoor Starting: Not recommended
- Earliest Planting: Once soil temperatures are consistently above 45F (7C)
- Watering: Water when soil is dry, keeping soil moist, but never wet. Do not over water. Kale can be damaged by letting it dry out completely.
- Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Planting: Sow seeds outdoors 1/2 inch deep once soil temperatures are above 45F (7C). Seeds should be started in well draining soil. Kale can be planted successfully up to 3 months before the last frost so long as the ground does not freeze.
- Weeding: Kale is not too picky, but weeds can disrupt the plants roots. Weed daily where possible.
- Harvesting: Pick the outer leaves by hand leaving the center to continue to grow.
- Known Pests: Kale has minimal pests or diseases.
More About Kale
Believe it or not, if you’ve read our out quick facts articles, you’ve already read about kale, because it’s actually the same plant as broccoli! Cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and more are all variations of the same plant. Though they may look different and taste different, they’re just the same plant pushed to different extremes.
Kale of all these varieties gets the best reputation for health food, though each variety tends to be fairly good for you. The major differences come form the part of the plant that you’re eating. Because of this you get different macro and micro nutrients from each variety. For example, broccoli has more vitamin B than kale, but kale contains more protein and macro-nutrients. People also often misunderstand kale’s calories, as kale is more calorie dense than other forms of the plant. Just because something is good for you doesn’t mean it doesn’t have calories!
Kale Tasting and Food Notes
Kale may be healthy, but it’s raw form is dry, crunchy and intensely bitter. Some people like raw kale, but we’re not those people. Often because of this kale is added as an ingredient to other dishes that enhance the flavor and make up for what it lacks. Commonly kale is roasted with bacon to make a side dish of kale chips with a savory and salty bacon hit. While this is flavorful it certainly reduces the overall health rating of the food.
On the sweet side kale often gets blended into smoothies. Kale smoothies usually have a fruit component that adds a sweet element to counteract the bitter taste.
From a taste perspective, not all kale is the same. The later in the fall that kale is harvested the more mild the bitterness is and the more sweet its flavor becomes. This change has to do with the change to colder weather where the leaves change to prepare for the transition between seasons. If you are looking to enhance your flavor, generally the last kale harvest of the year ends up being the best.
Should I Grow Kale in My Garden?
Kale is a very healthy green to grow that packs in both vitamins and protein. If you are looking for that kind of plant in your diet, we would recommend giving kale a shot. On top being a health nuts dream, kale is dead simple to grow. The plant requires little care and can be harvested multiple times and grown in multiple seasons. If you’re not one for bitter foods, maybe try less kale, but mix it in with smoothies to get the good benefits without the downsides of the bitter taste. While we think kale is a solid recommendation for most gardens, it can take up a fair amount of space, so keep that in mind when you’re planning your beds as you can’t live on kale alone.