Growing Kale in the Fall – A Reader’s Experience

Gardening is so easy when you keep it simple.  And that’s what TMG is all about.

It’s fun when readers write and let me know they’ve benefited from my simple methods.

Susan, a reader who lives in this area, sent the picture below and wrote:

“Am cooking my first batch (of kale) tonight; will have with roasted sweet potatoes, one of my favorite combinations.  ——-

“I opened up a narrow “thread of ground “ in the mulch and planted the seeds right before a rain.  Your heavy mulching really makes a difference!!!

“Thank you for sharing all you have learned!!”

More Details

We emailed back and forth a few times. More details were shared  that I thought might be especially helpful to those new to gardening or to simple ways of gardening.

       *To give the birds less of a chance to help themselves to the seed she planted in late evening.

        *Rain was in the  forecast for that night so the timing was perfect.

       *As her email above noted  the narrowest amount of earth (a thread of ground) was uncovered.  This was done so there would be less chance of rain washing away the seed.  

Enjoying the Flavor of Real Food 

Susan’s  son,  a trained chef,  told her that most foods get their flavor from salt, sugar, or fat.  (That is 100% correct and is especially true of processed foods.)

Foods grown nature’s way (as recommended throughout TMG) have better flavor and often need little if any additional seasoning. Susan has found that to be true and so have I.

Simple Recipe for Susan’s Kale:

“I cut the mess of the greens in late afternoon today (Oct 30), soaked them in lightly salted water to get any worms to let go. <Only one leaf with a worm and eggs>.

After stripping out the stem, placed the greens in a pot with about 3 Tbsp water.  

Put the covered pot on the lowest setting and let them slowly steam.  

The 4-qt pot was “full” until they cooked down.  — Nothing added.”

Reported End Result

“They were SO good.  Had a wonderful flavor.”

Kale – Cut and Come Again

Kale will grow back after cutting it.  And sometimes will make it through the winter without protection.

If protected from the cold it’s possible to get a few winter meals.

Russian Kale (a bit different from the kale Susan grew) volunteers in my garden in the fall. Grows until the cold prohibits growth, and then sits there until spring and starts growing again.

Pictures of Russian Kale in various stages are in this post.

Final Thoughts

Thanks to Susan for sharing her experience with me — and thus, with all of you.

Hope you are enjoying your fall garden and that your fall crops are producing.

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