ice damage

Grow Kale in the Winter

Dan This Land of Ours, Vegetables

growCathy Isom has some interesting tips about the green veggie you can grow in the winter. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.

 

 

When cold winter temperatures set in, there is one green vegetable that doesn’t mind the chill. Kale, and other members of the Brassica oleracea family like broccoli and cabbage, thrive in colder weather. Kale can grow in many southern states and coastal states all year round as long as frost and snow aren’t a threat.

Kale, like any plant, has particular preferences. It likes mildly acidic soil, ideally in the 6.0 to 6.5 pH range, which is typical for most gardens. Like any leafy vegetable, kale also likes the soil to be high in nitrogen, as well being rich in organic materials. The best time to plant kale is when the soil is between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

As colder weather approaches and if frost should occur on the leaves, always wait until the leaves have completely thawed before harvesting them. Winter months are also favorable for these leafy greens because pests aren’t such a big problem and the need for watering is minimal.

I’m Cathy Isom…

Image credit: (top right) Frozen kale/Ruth Hartnup/Flickr/Creative Commons.