when are kale seed pods ready to harvest

When seed pods (silques) turn a light tan or buff color they are ready to harvest. Cut whole plants at or near ground level, windrow, and dry the plants for 1-2 weeks in the field. If it rains, finish drying them in a well-ventilated hoop house or greenhouse.

1. How do you harvest kale seed pods?
2. How do you know if Kale is ready to harvest?
3. How long does Kale take from seed to harvest?
4. What month do you harvest kale?
5. Should you let kale flower?
6. Does Kale get bitter when it goes to seed?
7. How do you pick kale so it keeps growing?
8. Will Kale regrow after cutting?
9. How long do kale plants last?
10. Does kale grow back every year?
11. What can you not plant with kale?
12. How many seeds are in a kale hole?
13. How do you harvest and store kale?
14. Why is my kale bolting?
15. How often do you water kale?
16. What does bolted kale look like?
17. Can you eat kale pods?
18. Can you eat collard greens after they flower?
19. What can I do with kale from my garden?
20. How big should kale seedlings be before transplanting?

How do you harvest kale seed pods?

When the pods are fully dry, they can be placed in a brown paper bag. Close the bag and shake it vigorously. This should release any mature seeds from the pods. After the seeds have been collected and removed from the plant matter, store the seeds in a cool and dry place until ready to plant in the garden.

How do you know if Kale is ready to harvest?

Before you begin, you'll need to make sure that your kale plant is ready to harvest. You'll know when it's ready when it's about 12 inches tall and the leaves are the size of your hand or bigger. Leaves that are the size of your palm are younger and more tender whereas the bigger leaves will be older and a bit tougher.

How long does Kale take from seed to harvest?

Kale has a relatively fast growth rate and can grow from seed to harvest in about two months. It is a biennial plant that typically is grown as an annual. It is best planted in spring in cooler climates, and in late summer in warmer climates.

What month do you harvest kale?

When to Pick Kale

If you're looking to grow baby kale, plants will be ready to pick and enjoy in 25 to 30 days after they are sown. The harvest period usually occurs once in late spring or early summer, and again in autumn.

Should you let kale flower?

Just harvest regularly and you shouldn't have a problem. That said, aphids are also fond of kale flowers. When a Kale plant does mature enough to begin flowering, you can make an exception to the chop-from-bottom-only rule and remove the flowers – before they attract aphids.

Does Kale get bitter when it goes to seed?

Kale plants will bolt naturally in their second year shortly after the winter ends and warm weather returns. ... All of these signs mean that your kale is about to go to seed. When kale begins to bolt, the leaves become more tough and bitter, and suffer a diminished nutrient count.

How do you pick kale so it keeps growing?

How to Harvest Kale

1. Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand.
2. Pick about one fistful of leaves per harvest. ...
3. Avoid picking the terminal bud (found at the top center of the plant) because this will help to keep the plant productive.
4. Kale will continue growing until it's 20°F.

Will Kale regrow after cutting?

If you harvest kale correctly, the plant will continue to grow and produce leaves. ... If you cut the plant off at the top or harvest the smaller leaves growing in the center, it is very likely that you will kill the plant. You need to leave that center area at the top of the stem for the plant to keep on producing.

How long do kale plants last?

So How Long Does a Kale Plant Live? Normally Kale is biennial, so it will only live for two years. But there are Kale variants, that can live more than two years like Tree Kale for example.

Does kale grow back every year?

Kale is a biennial that many people grow as an annual, advises Cornell University. Some varieties of kale are perennial plants that come back year after year.

What can you not plant with kale?

Kale (Brassica oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable and member of the cabbage family. Varieties include lacinato, red Russian, and dinosaur kale. Avoid planting kale with other brassicas (like broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and Swiss chard), as they can fall prey to the same pests and diseases.

How many seeds are in a kale hole?

Direct seed: Sow 3 months before expected fall frost, 2 seeds per hole, 6" apart and 1/4" deep. Thin to one plant per hole. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Once plants are about 10-12" tall, remove the lower leaves. Repeat 3 or 4 times as the plants grow taller.

How do you harvest and store kale?

How to Store Kale

1. Kale will store for two to three weeks at 32° to 34°F (0°-4°C) and 90 to 95 percent humidity (moist) with some air circulation.
2. Wrap leaves in a moist cloth or paper towel and store them in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator; this will keep leaves from drying.

Why is my kale bolting?

Kale can bolt the following spring when it overwinters in your garden. When the temperatures begin to warm it can send up a flower stalk because it is a biennial plant that produces flowers and seed the second year of its life cycle. The leaves will become more bitter when it bolts.

How often do you water kale?

Kale is a fast grower, so keep the soil moist by giving it 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week.

What does bolted kale look like?

The Signs of Bolting

When the weather warms up, watch that central stalk for these signs that your kale is preparing to bolt: The stalk begins to shoot up taller. The leaves begin branching out from the stalk at some distance above the cluster. The central stalk shoots up well above the cluster of leaves at its base.

Can you eat kale pods?

The bright yellow flowers are also edible, as are the immature seedpods. Kale is a truly versatile vegetable. To save your own seed, you only need to let a few stalks mature. ... Just wait for the pods and stalks to be crisp-dry before picking them.

Can you eat collard greens after they flower?

If all goes well, harvested collard greens will be smooth, large and nutritious. All green parts of the plant are edible. Collard greens are a low-calorie source of numerous minerals and vitamins including vitamins A, C and K. Tough and fibrous, they require lots of cooking, which turns their leaves dark green.

What can I do with kale from my garden?

5 Ways to Eat Kale – or what to do with the rest of the bag of kale in the fridge

1. Toss it with Pasta. Kale and pasta go together beautifully. ...
2. Serve it in a Salad. Chop it up and toss it in with other salad veggies. ...
3. Add Kale to Scrambled Eggs. ...
4. Make Kale Chips. ...
5. Easy Kale Skillet Side Dish.

How big should kale seedlings be before transplanting?

When the plant is about 22cm / 9in high and four leaves have developed (about 6 weeks after sowing) transplant them to their final positions. Seeded or transplanted kale should be spaced 6 inches between plants in the row with rows 1 foot apart.