Earlier this year Sow True Seeds graciously donated extra Kale seed so that I could deputize @ Large Kale Reporters. Kale is one of those things that can be grown in the spring or the fall of the year and will over winter in many parts of the country.
We use 4 raised beds in the backyard for growing the majority of our tomatoes each summer. Once the tomato plants started dying out I began planting my kale in 2 of those beds. I pulled up all the tomato plants and gave the dirt a good turn before planting.
In the first bed I planted Red Russian and as you can see from the photo some kind of bug thinks its very tasty.
I waited for another tomato bed to die down and then I completed the same process and in that bed I planted Dwarf Siberian, Vates,Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch, and Lacinato. As you can see from these photos, this bed is just beautiful. No bugs, even though there is less than two feet between this bed and the bug ridden one.
But…I have found something else eating on this beautiful kale bed…
She’s pretty cute so I think I’ll let her eat all she wants too.
If you signed up to be a Kale Reporter @ Large, send an update to me when you can. Email me at blindpigandtheacorn@gmail.com.
Tipper
Tipper,
We did plant some Kale late…IN fact it was so late that we bought some Kale plants..9 to a package.
I also sowed some seed to see if the Kale would make this late. It all was doing beautifully. The plants were spaced just so and they were growing. The seed had just peeked through the ground. We went to the 4 foot high permaculture bed to look them over one morning and noticed a plant or two was missing. I blamed a squirrel as I also saw a couple of hickory nuts in the bed…The next couple of days they all disappeared…Just had to be the deer. They just “moseyed up to the bed” like it was a buffet table. Made us sick! Even the little Kale that was tender sprouts were gone…We never dreamed they would come that close (4 feet) to the house!
I didn’t plant anymore…
My husbands brother called and gave us plenty of Kale and greens. I still have some seed, so next spring I will plant some more.
We love Kale, spinach, turnip greens, mustard and collards…
I usually mix mustard, turnip and Kale together. I like collards and spinach cooked alone.
I am trying this recipe when I get my next mess of greens soon.
Mixed Greens and Potatoes
1/2 lb. kale
1/2 lb. turnip greens
1/2 lb. spinach
2 T. bacon drippings
2 Cups diced potatoes
1/4 Cup boiling water
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
dash cayenne pepper
6 strips crisp bacon
Wash greens in warm water. Rinse 3 times in cold water. Put bacon drippings into 3-quart saucepan. Add potatoes, boiling water salt and sugar. Cover: cook 15 minutes. Add kale and cook 5 minutes. Add spinach and turnip greens and cook 4-5minutes longer. Add pepper and cayenne. Toss lightly. Top with crisp bacon. Serve with creamy mayonnaise sauce. (See following recipe)
Cream Mayonnaise Sauce
9 T. butter
3/4 Cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 Cup milk
1/2 Cup mayonnaise
1/2 T. lemon juice
1/2 T. chives
Melt butter and stir in flour and seasonings. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Boil several minutes. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. Pass with greens….
NOPE…this ain’t diet…but after all you’re eating greens which are
healthy for you…ha
This came out of my cookbook “The Practical Produce Cookbook–How to Plant, Pick, Prepare and Preserve Produce”…
I love this book!
I have a few more Kale recipes if you would like them Tipper!
Tipper,
I may have forgot to hit post, but
sometime around noon I did comment.
(Guess I had a Senior Moment.)
Don’t think I ever ate any Kale,
but I like spinach and other greens.
Wonder what that pretty girl likes in your raised Kale bed?
…Ken
Miss Cindy-so for I like the dwarf variety best-but they are all good. I think the purpose of the dwarf is to save space in the garden.
Ed I think the taste is most similar to spinach. You don’t have to wait till after a frost to eat it-but folks do say the taste is sweeter after a frost. I’m no kale expert either but I’m liking it so far!
Tipper,
No wonder those Mountain Girls are
so pretty and healthy, and I would
have to compare you to my own mom
with your kindness.
I’m anxious to hear from the other
Kale Reporters soon. I don’t think
I’ve ever ate any of that stuff.
…Ken
Everything is looking great, excited to see what the other reporters come up with!
Lay leaves out on cookie sheet . Season to taste. Toast . Kale Chips.
I’ve never tried kale. Does it taste like cabbage? Or broccoli? Or spinach? I like all of those. Do you need to wait until after a frost to eat it?
I’m a little jealous. I have the dwarf blue curled scotch. It is up but still too small to pick any. I’ve been getting mustard and turnip greens, lettuce and radishes from the fall garden.
I always have trouble with cabbage butterfly larvae in September. They will be around until it gets cold enough to send them in for the year. It can be really frustrating as the eat like a horse. I don’t like to do it, but I need to spray for them.
I like the bigger bug munching; nice picture!
Yes, I think you should keep her too! The kale is beautiful as is the girl.
Which one do you like the best? What is the purpose of the dwarf kale, is it for salads? I buy a lot of kale but I’ve never had any dwarf kale.
Your kale all looks wonderful to me, even the ones the bugs like!