Kale was developed by seed selection from the early cabbages. By the 5th century B.C., continued preference for the larger leaved cabbages had led to the development of what we now know as kale. Kale is known botanically by the name Brassica oleracea variety acephala which roughly translates into "cabbage of the vegetable garden without a head."
Kale is a hardy plant that thrives in cool or cold weather. In many cool climates, it is planted in the early spring for harvest after the first few frosts of the following autumn. In more temperate climates kale is planted after the hot days of summer and grown throughout the cooler months. Kale is a nutritious food that is wonderful prepared in salads or stir fried dishes. There are many varieties of kale available.
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Articles & Papers
The Farm & Garden library contains the following articles and papers on the subject of kale:
- Growing Kale by Farm & Garden
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Forum Discussions
The Farm & Garden Forums are a great resource for getting answers to your questions about how to start, grow, water, harvest, and prepare kale. Here are a few select discussions:
Kale Seeds
Here are a few sources of kale seeds to get you started.
Tools, Equipment, and Supplies
Sometimes the right tool or the right gadget can make your task much easier and your time in the garden more productive. Here's a list of tools and equipment suppliers that may have what you're looking for.
- Gardener's Supply Company
- Thompson & Morgan
- GEMPLER'S Online Store
- Gardening tools from Amazon
- Irrigation supplies from Amazon
- Seeders from Amazon
- Garden Carts from Amazon
- Row covers from Amazon
- Greenhouses from Amazon
Books
Here are some books we found that might help you with your kale.
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