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In recent years, more and more Russians, coming to the store, are trying to buy kale kale. But it is still rare on the shelves. But restaurant and cafe owners are increasingly listing dishes made from this leafy vegetable on their menus.
The Kale variety is still a rare guest in vegetable gardens. That is why we want to attract the attention of Russians so that Kale kale becomes a permanent vegetable crop. After all, it contains many useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body.
Description
European vegetable growers have been growing the crop for a long time. If we talk about the history of Kale cabbage, it goes back to ancient times. In the 17th century, attitudes towards the leafy vegetable changed, as more productive varieties that were resistant to disease appeared.
In Russia cabbage variety Keil was popular until the 18th century in the northern regions. Kale was valued for its cold resistance and the ability to produce fresh vegetables in harsh conditions.
Kale is an annual herb with a short stem. The leaves are arranged on petioles in several tiers.
The cabbage variety has an unusual appearance. The leaves themselves are curly, and there are clearly visible waves along the edges.This cabbage is also called curly cabbage. Only leaf blades without stems and petioles are eaten. The whole plant can be fed to animals.
The color palette of the leaves is varied: green, red, gray, purple, depending on the variety. That is why Kale is often planted in flower beds as ornamental plants. Look at the photo above how unusual the beds with Kale collards look.
The height of the Kale cabbage bush is within 25-50 cm. The foliage is strong, after cutting off some of the leaves, the cabbage continues to bear fruit. But heads of cabbage are not formed.
Characteristic
A special feature of kale cabbage is the ability to grow in one place for several years, but only in the southern regions. In favorable conditions with good shelter, the cabbage variety overwinters well and provides early vitamin leaves.
Kale collard greens after wintering:
Positive points
- Kale cabbage leaves are a dietary product. In addition to various components, they contain 9 amino acids that are found in meat. Many lovers of the green vegetable call it “the new beef.”
- The fast growth of kale produces an early harvest of vitamins.
- Thanks to the presence of exanthine and lutein, regular consumption of Kale leaves protects the eyes from ultraviolet radiation.
- The microelements contained in cabbage remove toxins and radionuclides from the body.
- The elements that make up Kale cabbage are not only easily digestible, but also provide high vital activity for the body.
- The presence of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc helps to curb the development of cancer.
Minuses
Unfortunately, despite such optimistic positive properties, leafy varieties of Kale have contraindications associated with individual intolerance. In addition, if you have kidney disease, the vegetable should also not be consumed, since the leaves contain oxalic acid.
Kinds
Kale cabbage, as can be seen from the description and in the photo, is somewhat similar to lettuce.
Today, thanks to the efforts of breeders, the variety of kale is represented by the following varieties (photo below):
- The most common variety is Kale Curly or Curly. The variety has soft, sweetish leaves. The variety received its name for the special curlyness of its leaf blades.
- Tuscan Kale leaves are wrinkled and very thin.
- The frost-resistant fast-growing Premier Kale cabbage should also not be ignored.
- The Siberian Keil variety is also cold-resistant and is practically not affected by harmful insects.
- Red Russian Kale has a bright color that is close to purple. Leaves with pronounced wrinkles.
- Redbor F1 kale kale is often used not only in salads, but also to decorate dishes.
- The Kale Cane variety is valued for its large size, because cabbage often reaches a height of 190 cm. And the name comes from the fact that the thick stem is used as a cane.
You can prepare vitamin salads from Kale leaf cabbage with the addition of any ingredients. The vegetable is tasty in soups and stewed.
Useful qualities
Kale has wild relatives. It was from them that she received, and later retained, beneficial properties. If you read reviews about kale cabbage, you can find a lot of interesting things.
The uniqueness of the leafy vegetable is difficult to overestimate. It is nutritious and surpasses meat in many respects. The protein contained in Kale cabbage is absorbed by the human body faster than by animals.
So, why do you need to engage in culture:
- The leafy vegetable of the Kale variety contains a lot of calcium. One gram of vegetable contains 1.35 ml of this element. Calcium is absorbed four times faster than this microelement from milk. Regular consumption of leafy greens will provide the human body with full nutrition.
- 200 grams of Kale leaves contain the daily requirement of protein. Just as much as in meat. Amino acids from cabbage are absorbed faster than from beef.
- Any variety of kale is a natural antioxidant.
- The vegetable is highly valued by nutritionists, who recommend it to combat excess weight. After all, the calorie content is extremely low - 100 grams of green products contain no more than 50 Kcal.
Rich in all kinds of vitamins and microelements, Kale cabbage should take its place in Russian gardens.
Features of cultivation
Unlike representatives of the cabbage family, Kale has a negative attitude towards transplantation. Therefore, it is most often propagated by sowing seeds directly into the ground. Although you can grow seedlings in separate containers. If you follow all agrotechnical standards, you can grow a tasty and healthy vegetable without much effort.
Seedlings are the key to success
Let's consider the seedling method of growing Kale cabbage:
- Seeds are sown 40-50 days before planting in open ground. Separate containers are filled with nutrient soil. You need to put 2-3 seeds in each glass.
- The seed is immersed 1 cm into the soil; with deeper sowing, seedlings do not appear for a long time. To obtain friendly seedlings, optimal conditions are created for future seedlings: the air temperature, if the plants are grown in an apartment, must be at least 24 degrees. A film is put on the containers, which is removed as soon as the plants begin to hatch.
- In the future, 16 degrees is enough for the full development of seedlings. But lighting should be maximum at all stages of cultivation.
The seedlings are ready in 6 weeks and can be planted in the ground. By this time, the leaf curl is clearly visible. Seedlings should be transplanted from the container carefully so as not to damage the roots. After all, the description said that the survival rate is low. That is why it is better to sow seeds directly into the ground.
Sowing seeds in the ground
To grow the leafy vegetable, you need fertile soil. It is better to choose beds after legumes, potatoes, cucumbers or tomatoes. The soil is prepared in the fall, humus and compost are added (at least 3 kg per square meter), as well as mineral fertilizers.
Soil acidity should vary in the range of 5.5-6.8. It is difficult to check on your own without laboratory analysis. But you can see what weeds growing in the garden. If they are infested with woodlice, then you need to add granulated sulfur. When acidity is low, more compost is added to the soil.
The site should be located in an open place, although partial shade is also not prohibited. Sowing is done in April, when the soil warms up to +5 degrees.
The holes for planting seeds are placed at a distance of 45 cm. Several seeds are placed in each of them, watered and covered with transparent material or a piece of glass.After 4 days, the shelter will have to be removed, since the emerging seedlings need a lot of light.
Caring for plants in the ground
You don't need any special knowledge to grow Kale collards. If a draft-free area with good lighting is chosen correctly, the result is guaranteed.
The proximity of groundwater negatively affects the development of kale. Therefore, if it is impossible to find another site, the bed is raised, a large layer of drainage is poured, and fertile soil is poured on top. In the future, you need to water, loosen the soil or mulch it when the bush is 15 cm high, and feed it.
As for fertilizing, they are carried out every 6-8 weeks, as the harvest progresses. There is no need to overfeed, this will lead to rotting of the leaves. You can use mullein infusion, chicken droppings, wood ash extract and herbal infusion. It is useful to sprinkle the plants with dry ash after watering.
What and who harms Kale varieties
Collards suffer most from:
- rapeseed sawfly;
- cutworms and cabbage flies;
- aphids and cruciferous flea beetles;
- flower beetle and wireworm;
- slugs and weevils.
Such a number of people who like to profit from leaves only speaks of the high taste and beneficial properties of Kale cabbage varieties.
Control measures:
- Constant dusting with ash or tobacco dust.
- Spraying with vinegar and infusion of chicken manure.
- Water the leaves with solutions of ammonia or iodine.
- Special preparations strictly according to the instructions.
Harvest
New greenery grows in places where leaves were cut off. Therefore, vitamin products are on the table throughout the warm season. Overripe leaves are hard and bitter, so you need to do everything on time.
Cabbage is stored well in the freezer and retains all its properties for six months.
