by johnah on November 16, 2020
Picking Kale – How To Harvest Kale: A Beginner’s Guide
Kale is one of the most popular vegetables grown in our garden. Its leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals, it tastes good when cooked or eaten raw, and its seeds contain high amounts of protein.
It is a very versatile vegetable that can be used both fresh or dried.
The leaves are harvested from the stem and allowed to dry out before being picked. They can then be stored in a cool, dark place until needed.
When they have been dried out enough, they can be easily cut into small pieces with scissors or kitchen shears.
How To Pick Kale Properly?
1) Keep Your Hands Clean!
Wash your hands thoroughly after handling any kind of leafy green plant (or anything else).
2) Cut Off The Top Of The Leaf!
If you want to pick the top part of the leaf off, simply make a slit in the center of it. You don’t need to completely remove all the leaves.
3) Pull Out The Seeds!
Once you’ve removed all the leaves, pull out all of the seeds with your fingers or tweezers. It’s easier to do this when the plant is dry.
4) Wear Protective Gear!
If you’re worried about potentially coming into contact with the orobanche minor, it might be a good idea to wear protective gear such as gloves and goggles.
Does Kale Regrow?
So does kale regrow?
The answer is… Yes and no. Although it might be possible for a plant to sprout out of the ground after it has been pulled up, you are far more likely to come across other types of wild plants. There are several other types of wild mustard that can look very similar to kale when they are in seedling stage. It is extremely easy to confuse these with the real thing.
These wild plants usually have a slightly bitter taste and are not as good for eating raw in a salad. Most of them also have irritating hairs that can cause a rash if you are not careful when handling them.
These types of plants should be thrown on the compost heap, never into the eatable garden.
Does Kale Get Too Big?
Very large plants tend to produce very thick stems. These stems are woody and can be quite tough when eaten. Younger plants have a much greater nutritional content than older ones, so try to keep your plants short and stocky by harvesting regularly.
When it comes to planting out your own plants, you should aim to give them enough space so that they can grow without becoming top-heavy. You can then harvest the outer leaves as required and allow the inner leaves to become huge, healthy plants in their own right.
Kale Is Not A Weed!
Many people get confused when they go out into their gardens and see a leafy green plant growing there. If you don’t grow vegetables, then it might seem logical to pull it out and throw it on the compost heap.
Unfortunately this is not always the right thing to do!
There are many types of garden weeds, some of which can be extremely dangerous if eaten. Many of them also look very similar to the plants you might want to grow.
It’s always worth doing a quick web search to make sure that you have correctly identified a plant before throwing it away!
If in doubt, don’t throw it out! Even if you are experienced at identifying edible plants, you might occasionally get things wrong.
It’s always best to be cautious when eating something for the first time.
The rule is this: When in doubt, throw it out!
How To Avoid Common Mistakes
Here are a few simple rules to follow when growing and picking your kale to ensure that you get the most from your plants:
1) Always wash your kale thoroughly before eating it.
It’s better to be safe than sorry, even if you’ve grown the plants yourself.
2) Be aware that kale can look very similar to other types of wild plants.
These often have similar (but different) names and can be dangerous if eaten. Always do some basic research to make sure that you have correctly identified a plant before picking it and eating it.
3) It’s important to keep your kale plants well watered but not waterlogged.
The roots should never be left sitting in water. Firm, well-draining soil is ideal.
If you notice a build-up of water in your planting tray, be sure to empty it straight away. You can also add a layer of gravel to the bottom of your tray to help with drainage.
4) Cut off the base of the stem when harvesting.
This will encourage the plant to regenerate and provide a continual source of food.
5) Many people make the mistake of harvesting all the outer leaves first.
Try to keep your plants well-watered and allow the inner leaves to grow. These are often the most nutritious parts of the plant.
6) The stems and veins of mature kale plants often become tough and woody.
Younger plants have more tender stems that can be eaten.
7) Don’t wait until plants start to wilt before harvesting.
Kale does not grow back once it starts to go yellow or brown.
8) Many gardeners make the mistake of planting their kale plants too close together.
Make sure there is plenty of space (at least 2 feet) between each plant. This allows the leaves to fully mature without becoming cramped or damaged.
If you follow these steps, you should have no trouble growing your own kale from seed. Remember, it’s important to always be safety conscious and never to presume that a plant is edible unless you are absolutely sure!Happy gardening!
Rabbit & Bunny Breeds – A Complete List
Raising rabbits and fancy rabbits is a great choice for any homesteader or survivalist. They are easy to raise, can be sold or butchered and have many uses.
They also reproduce quickly so it’s not long before you’ve got more than you know what to do with!
Angora Rabbit
The Angora rabbit is one of the oldest types of rabbit breeds. They have long been raised for their long silky fur which is often woven into yarn.
The Flemish Giant is the largest and most common breed of rabbit. They can grow to over 11 pounds and 6 feet long.
They are generally docile but may be aggressive if not handled frequently as a kit.
The Jersey Wooly is an old American breed that dates back to the 1800’s. They are black with white accents and soft wool like fur.
They are generally calm, easy going rabbits.
The Rex is a small rabbit with a wavy coat. They come in a wide variety of colors and patterns making them popular as pets.
Fancy Rabbit Breeds
There are many other types of fancy rabbits including: Angoras, Brazils, Californians, Himalayans, Jersey Woolys, Marshalls, Silkies, and Thrianta.
The most common types of pet rabbits are the Holland Lop, Havana, Dutch, and Mini Lop. They are all small rabbits with upright ears.
They tend to be very friendly and outgoing.
Note: Pets that are purchased need to be fixed by a veterinarian or professional. Rabbits are very sexual animals and unless fixed, they can begin mating at an early age.
Angora rabbits are also very popular pets because they do not just produce wool; they also produce milk! They come in a wide range of colors and can be bred with each other and other types of rabbits.
One of the oldest and rarest rabbit breeds is the Palomino. There are thought to be less than 200 worldwide, making them a very exclusive pet indeed!
Meat Rabbits
Meat rabbits, also known as “pets-meats” are bred and raised as living food sources. They are a generally larger than normal breeds with fast growth rates.
Most are mixes of several different breeds and have been bred for meat quality rather than pet qualities.
Because they are not kept as pets, their behavior can be very unpredictable. However, most do enjoy being handled and will follow you around the house or yard.
They do not usually like being picked up; they prefer to be on the floor and ground level where they feel safer.
There are many breeds of meat rabbits, including the: New Zealanf, Palomino, Texel, Polwarth, and Cashmere.
Other Rabbit Breeds
There are literally hundreds of other rabbit breeds in the world. Most are mixes of the main types of rabbit or even just varieties of the same type.
Some of these include:
Angora: Giant, English, French, German, Holy Land, Irish, Manx, and Swiss
Colored: Cajun, Californian, Chinchilla, Dutch, Havana, Lionhead, Michigan, Mini Lop, Nevada, Palomino, Rex, Silver Fox, Thrianta, andYSvelte.
Meat: American, Belgian Hare, Chinchilla, Giant Hotot, Jersey Wooly, and New Zealanf.
Other: Angelot, Belgian Fancy, Chinese, Creme D’Argent, French Lop, Holland Lop, Himalayan,Italian, Jersey Dude, Polish, Russian, Satin, Siamese, and Texel.
Rabbit Breed Chart
Albino: Black with bright red eyes.
Angora: Giant, English, French, German, Holy Land, Irish, Manx, and Swiss
Colored: Cajun, Californian, Chinchilla, Dutch, Havana, Lionhead, Michigan, Mini Lop, Nevada, Palomino, Rex, Silver Fox, Thrianta, and YSvelte.
Dutch: These are just like Holland Lops but larger. They come in many colors and varieties.
Himalayan: This is a very large rabbit with long, thick hair. The coat comes in all the usual varieties of color.
They have a docile nature and can be litter box trained.
Jersey Wooly: This breed has a wooly undercoat and a furry top coat. Their sizes range from medium to very large.
Mini Lop: This is just like a Holland Lop but smaller. They range in size from medium to large.
They come in many varieties of color.
New Zealand: Also known as the Californian, this breed comes in many colors and varieties. They are very popular for their large, meaty bodies.
Palomino: Also known as the Golden, this breed comes in many varieties and colors. Sizes range from medium to large.
They are very friendly and docile.
Rex: This breed comes in many varieties and colors. They are smaller than most rabbits.
Silver Fox: This breed is the same size as a Holland Lop, but has a longer coat. They come in many varieties and colors and are docile and easy to care for.
Thrianta: These rabbits are not very large and come in many varieties and colors. They have an energetic nature and are fun to watch.
YSvelte: The largest of the minilop rabbits, this rabbit is very large and meaty. They come in all varieties and colors.
They are very friendly and easy to care for.
Return to Home Page
Return to Care Information Page
Return to Breeders Page
Sources & references used in this article:
Vitamin content of field-frozen kale by AD HOLMES, BV McKEY, KO ESSELEN… – American Journal of …, 1945 – jamanetwork.com
Effect of Defoliation and Spacing on Vegetative Growth and Yield of Kale (Brassica Oleracea, Var. Acephala, DC) by JA Chweya – East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, 1982 – Taylor & Francis
Gas Chromatographic Determination of Residues of Dimethoate and Its Oxygen Analog in Field-Sprayed Kale by RW Storherr, RR Watts – Journal of the Association of Official …, 1969 – academic.oup.com
Degradation of Dicofol and Chlorpyrifos Residues in Kale Plots by P Danuwat, C Phatthanawan, T Hassanai… – Thai Agricultural …, 2015 – li01.tci-thaijo.org
kale by FS Leaves – pdfs.semanticscholar.org
The influence of spacing, leaf picking frequency, initial time of first harvest levels and splits of Nitrogen on leaf yield of Kales (Brassica Oleracea Var Acephala DC). by PW Chahira – 1982 – erepository.uonbi.ac.ke
Row Cover Weight Influences Nitrate Content of Kale Grown in Solar Greenhouses by B Wyatt – 2018 – digitalcommons.murraystate.edu
1050 KALE by I Acaricides, N Molluskicides – 1982 – Springer
Categories:
Tags:
No Tag
Post navigation
Previous post Peat Moss Alternatives: What To Use Instead Of Peat Moss
Post navigation
Next post Pieris Care And Planting – How To Grow Japanese Andromeda Bushes