Kale cabbage: photo description

In recent years, more and more s, coming to the store, are trying to buy Kale kale. But it is still rare on the shelves. But the owners of restaurants and cafes are increasingly indicating dishes from this leafy vegetable on the menu.

There are still rare guests in the gardens of the Calais variety. That is why we want to attract the attention of s so that 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, then it goes back to antiquity. In the XNUMXth century, attitudes towards leafy vegetables changed as more fruitful, disease-resistant varieties emerged.

In Our Country, the Kale cabbage variety was popular until the XNUMXth century in the northern regions. Kale was valued for its cold resistance and the ability to obtain 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. Only leaf blades without stem and petioles are used for food. Animals can be fed the whole plant.

The color palette of the leaves is diverse: green, red, gray, purple, depending on the variety. That is why Cale is often planted in flower beds as ornamental plants. Look at the photo above how unusual the beds with kale look.

The height of the Kale cabbage bush is within 25-50 cm. The foliage is strong, after cutting off part of the leaves, the cabbage continues to bear fruit. But heads of cabbage are not formed.

Characterization

A 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 winters well and provides early vitamin leaves.

Kale Kale after wintering:

Positive aspects

1. Kale leaves are a dietary product. They contain, in addition to various components, 9 amino acids that are found in meat. Many green vegetable lovers refer to it as the “new beef”.
2. The rapid growth of kale provides an early harvest of vitamins.
3. Due to the presence of zaexanthin and lutein, regular use of the leaves of Kale varieties protects the eyes from ultraviolet radiation.
4. Microelements contained in cabbage remove toxins and radionuclides from the body.
5. The elements that make up kale are not only easily digestible, but also provide high vitality for the body.
6. The presence of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc helps to curb the development of cancer.

Cons

Unfortunately, despite such optimistic positive properties, Kale leaf varieties have contraindications associated with individual intolerance. In addition, with kidney disease, the vegetable should also not be consumed, since the leaves contain oxalic acid.

Types

Kale, this can be seen from the description and in the photo, is somewhat similar to leaf lettuce.

To date, thanks to the efforts of breeders, the variety of kale is represented by such varieties (photo below):

1. The most common variety is Kale Curly or Curly. The variety has soft, sweetish leaves. And the variety got its name for the special curliness of the leaf plates.

   

2. Tuscan kale has wrinkled, very thin leaves.

   

3. Frost-resistant fast-growing Kale of the Premier variety also does not need to be ignored.

   

4. The Siberian Cale variety is also cold-resistant, practically not affected by harmful insects.

   

5. Red Kale Kale has a bright color close to purple. Leaves with pronounced wrinkling.

   

6. Kale Redbor F1 Kale is often used not only in salads, but also to decorate dishes.

   

7. 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 a thick stem is used as a cane.

   

From kale, you can prepare vitamin salads with the addition of any ingredients. Delicious vegetable in soups, stewed.

Useful qualities

Kale has wild relatives. It was from them that she received, and later retained, useful properties. If you read reviews about Kale cabbage, you can find a lot of interesting things.

The uniqueness of a leafy vegetable can hardly be overestimated. It is nutritious, superior to meat in many respects. The protein contained in kale is absorbed by the human body faster than the animal.

So why do you need to do culture:

1. Kale leafy vegetables are rich in calcium. One gram of vegetable accounts for 1,35 ml of this element. Calcium is absorbed four times faster than this mineral from milk. Regular consumption of leafy greens will provide the human body to the fullest.
2. 200 grams of Kale leaves contain the daily protein requirement. Just as much as in meat. Cabbage amino acids are absorbed faster than beef.
3. Any variety of kale Kale is a natural antioxidant.
4. The vegetable is highly valued by nutritionists, who recommend it to combat excess weight. After all, the calorie content is extremely low – in 100 grams of green products no more than 50 kcal.

Kale, rich in all kinds of vitamins and microelements, should take its place in the gardens of s.

Peculiarities of growing

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. Subject to all agrotechnical standards, you can grow a tasty and healthy vegetable without much effort.

Seedling is the key to success

Consider a seedling method for growing kale cabbage:

1. Seeds are sown 40-50 days before planting in open ground. Separate containers are filled with nutrient soil. In each glass you need to put 2-3 seeds.
2. The seed is immersed in the soil by 1 cm; with deeper sowing, seedlings do not appear for a long time. To obtain friendly seedlings, future seedlings create optimal conditions: the air temperature, if the plants are grown in an apartment, should be at least 24 degrees. A film is put on the containers, which is removed as soon as the plants begin to hatch.
3. In the future, 16 degrees is enough for the full development of seedlings. But lighting should be maximum at all stages of cultivation.

Seedlings are ready in 6 weeks, they can be planted in the ground. At this point, the curl of the leaves is clearly visible. Transplant seedlings from the container should be carefully so as not to damage the roots. After all, in the description it was 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

Fertile land is needed to grow leafy vegetables. It is better to choose beds after legumes, potatoes, cucumbers or tomatoes. The soil is prepared in the fall, humus, compost are added (at least 3 kg per square meter), as well as mineral fertilizers.

The acidity of the soil should vary in the range of 5,5-6,8. It is difficult to check on your own without laboratory analysis. But you can watch what weeds grow in the garden. If they are flooded with wood lice, then you need to add granular sulfur. With low acidity, more compost is added to the soil.

The site should be in an open area, although partial shade is also not forbidden. Sowing is done in April, when the soil warms up to +5 degrees.

Wells for planting seeds are placed at a distance of 45 cm. Several seeds are placed in each of them, watered and covered with a transparent material or a piece of glass. After 4 days, the shelter will have to be removed, since the seedlings that have appeared need a lot of light.

Plant care in the ground

No special knowledge is needed to grow kale. If a site without a draft is chosen correctly, with good lighting, the result is guaranteed.

The proximity of groundwater adversely 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 on top. In the future, you need to water, loosen the soil or mulch it at a bush height of 15 cm, feed it.

As for top dressing, they are carried out every 6-8 weeks, as the crop is harvested. Overfeeding is not necessary, this will lead to rotting of the leaves. You can use an infusion of mullein, chicken manure, wood ash extract and herbal infusion. It is useful to sprinkle the plants with dry ash after watering.

What and who harms Kale varieties

Kale is most affected by:

• rapeseed sawfly;
• scoops and cabbage flies;
• aphids and cruciferous flea;
• flower beetle and wireworm;
• slugs and weevil.

Such a number of lovers to profit from leaves speaks only of the high taste and beneficial properties of Kale varieties.

Control measures:

1. Constant dusting with ash or tobacco dust.
2. Spraying with vinegar and infusion of chicken manure.
3. Watering the leaves with solutions of ammonia or iodine.
4. Special preparations strictly according to the instructions.

Harvest

In places where the leaves were cut, new greenery grows. Therefore, vitamin products are present on the table throughout the warm season. Overripe leaves are tough, bitter, so you need to do everything on time.

Cabbage is well stored in the freezer, retains all properties for six months.

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