VEGETABLES > KALE > HARVESTING

IN THIS GUIDE

KALE GUIDES

leafy kale in a raised planter

HarvestingSowing

Kale is absolutely one of the very best crops for UK gardeners to grow – and one of the comfortable too .

There are a number of different varieties to choose from which tender quite a lot of miscellany , and if you seed and grow it in the right place and at the right times , you’re able to potentially glean Brassica oleracea acephala all year round .

leafy kale and chives growing together in a garden bed

Typically , kale is sow between March and June or July in the UK and is harvested between around September and March .

Outdoors Kale is not typically harvested as much , if at all over the summertime , since the leaf savour better in the common cold .

However , you’re able to also inseminate cabbage at any time indoors for micro - greens or babe leaves – so you could be eating refreshed cole all twelvemonth round .

hands holding red secateurs in front of kale plant

“ I have found that mature kale as a salad craw is a neat way to include   it in the house menu in the summer month , peculiarly in a salad , ” enunciate Horticulturist Colin Skelly .

“ I develop tray in a greenhouse , which also avert some of the airborne muncher of sugar ( although not slugs or snails ! ) . ”

Staggered sowings will guarantee that you have kale to eat up throughout much of the year , since kale can be reap at a range of dissimilar stages of emergence .

secateurs harvesting kale

While kale is most unremarkably considered as an yearly craw , you should note that there are also some perennial types that you will be able to reap not only for a single season but over several years .

When To Harvest Kale

There are several dissimilar choice when it comes to harvesting kale , since you could reap it at any level of growth . you’re able to :

Kale micro - commons can be harvest after just 8 - 12 days or so .

Once the kale spring up lawful leaves , you could harvest it at any prison term .

cutting leaves from a kale plant using red secateurs

Though if you would wish your scratch to grow into a larger , full - sized plant then you should not pick too many leaves until it has get for longer .

When precisely fledged leave of absence are ready for harvest time will bet on the variety you have pick out and a range of other divisor .

But typically , you will glean dinero between 55 - 75 day after sowing .

harvested kale in a wicker basket

Smaller leaves are more tender than larger single , so when you choose to harvest them will obviously bet on what you would like to do with them .

How To Harvest Kale

To reap lettuce , follow these footstep :

Storing & Using Kale

Micro - greens and baby leave are well eaten unused and peeled , as before long as possible after you harvest .

They are great for salad , sandwich and more .

large lettuce leaves work out best in cooked recipes – they can also be turned into kale crisps , or dry for previous use .

close up of harvested kale in a wicker basket with dappled sunlight

You might also blitz a few leave to add to yield smoothies .

you could also keep them in a sealed container in the electric refrigerator for a week or so , or blanch then freeze down them for foresighted - full term memory board .

Since you may make use of cole in so many ways , it is a works that just keeps on feed – you will surely find it a great flora to raise in your garden .

leafy kale and chives in shade