Kale another easy early spring vegetable to plant. Do you like Kale? I don't know if I do or not.

image from thebrownchair.com 

Kale another easy spring vegetable to plant.  Do you like kale?  I don't know if I do or not.  

​Good morning at the end of March going out I would say more like a lion with cooler temperatures and that wind.  I just came in from the greenhouse, and it is cold out. 37F(3C) after having a temperature at 3:00 AM at 51F(10C). The wind is blowing out of the N 24 mph.  high only 58F(18C) but still with the wind blowing it will be a cool day.  So different than the 80F(26C) yesterday.  It sounds like rain and cool the rest of the week.  Now doesn’t that sound like spring.   Stay warm, stay safe.
 
Australia family and friends for Wed. April 1 will have 84F(29C) and partly cloudy skies.  Sounds like a little more of the summer weather for them.  Stay cool, stay safe.
 
I am posting about another early spring crop that is easy to grow.  Kale. I don’t know if I like this or not.  But I will try it and see.  I always thought it was a little bitter but maybe if I harvest when they are younger it will be better.  Do you like Kale?  Just plant a little and even put in your flower bed makes a nice foliage plant.  I will have pots of plants here from Swift’s Greenhouse at the end of April if you want to try some. 

Growing Kale Written By:  Catherine Boeckmann
Eat your greens—and love them, too! Kale isn’t just a health food trend; it’s a garden superstar. Packed with vitamins and able to handle chilly temps like a champ, kale thrives in spring and fall. From curly to dinosaur varieties, this hardy leafy green brings beauty and bounty to your garden—and your plate. Let’s dig into how to grow kale like a pro!
About Kale
Kale is a cold-hardy, resilient, non-heading green. It’s one of the easiest members of the brassica family to grow (which includes cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other common cole crops).
A biennial (2-year) plant, kale produces leaves in the first year, and then, in the next year (or sometimes late in the first year), it will form a flower stalk. The stalk forms flowers and then seeds. Once the seeds mature, the plant dies.
Think beyond grocery store kale; there are so many amazing kale flavors and textures to choose from if you grow your own seed: mild, almost salad-like greens; sweet ‘Red Russian’ kales; or the nutty and sometimes peppery flavors of Italian kales; or handsome ‘Cavalo Nero’ or Tuscan kale, also called dinosaur kale because of its texture.
As well as being extremely nutritious, kale is attractive, coming in a stunning range of varieties, from bright greens to dark purples, crunchy leaves to crinkled beauties, and everything in between. Its ornamental value can be appreciated in traditional garden beds or containers, especially in the fall.
While easy to grow, there are a few crucial things to get right if you want to enjoy a truly bumper crop of health-boosting leaves. Read on for our guide to growing kale.
Planting
Full sun and fertile, well-draining soil produce the fastest-growing and most tender leaves, though kale will tolerate partial shade as well. Add plenty of compost to the ground before planting, and if your soil isn’t especially rich, top up its fertility by working in nitrogen-rich amendments such as blood meal, cottonseed meal, or composted manure into the ground before planting.
When to Plant Kale
Kale tastes best when plants grow rapidly and mature before the heat of summer (before temperatures exceed 75°F/24°C) or after fall frosts occur. Young plants are not seriously damaged by temperatures down to 25°F/-4°C. Mature plants are extremely hardy and can withstand very cold temperatures. However, hot temperatures will slow growth and cause a bitter flavor.
For spring: Whether direct seeding into the soil or transplanting starter plants from the nursery, you can plant 4 to 6 weeks before the average last spring frost. Seeds will germinate at soil temperatures as low as 40°F/4°C.
How to Plant Kale
When planting, add fertilizer (1-1/2 cups of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 25 feet of row) into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil. If you fertilize with compost, apply no more than 1 inch of well-composted organic matter per 100 square feet of garden area.
Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch deep, 1 inch apart, in rows 18 to 30 inches apart.
If you’re setting out young plants (transplants), plant them at the depth at which they are growing in the container, spaced 12 inches apart, in rows 18 to 30 inches apart.
After planting, water the plants well.
Growing
After about 2 weeks, thin seedlings to 8 to 12 inches apart.
It’s important to keep kale well watered and fertilized. If rain is inconsistent, provide 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week (about 1 gallon per square foot).
Side-dress as needed with a high-nitrogen fertilizer.
Mulch the soil to keep down the weeds, retain moisture, and keep kale cool. Kale growth can slow if plants are stressed (too hot or cold, inadequate water, pests or disease).
Harvesting
Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand. Pick about a fistful of outer leaves per harvest, but no more than one-third of the plant at one time.
Avoid picking the terminal bud (at the top center of the plant), which helps to maintain the plant’s productivity.
Kale will continue growing until temperatures reach 20°F/-7°C. Do not stop harvesting: A “kiss” of frost makes it even sweeter. (See local frost dates.)
To extend the harvest, protect with row covers or tarps. Or, create a makeshift cover of old blankets propped up by hay bales.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/kale
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse