How To Cut Kale Off Plant
As you harvest remove and compost yellowing or damaged leaves.
How to cut kale off plant. Boil the leaves for 1-2 minutes in water with a little salt added to it. To do this cut just below where the stem connects to the larger leaves. Over the next few weeks or months depending on the variety and climate youll notice smaller side shoots of.
The video above from Renees Garden Seeds shows you an easy way to harvest baby kale leave. Start cutting leaves for cooking when plant is 8 to 10 inches high. Or be safe and use a knife or trimming shears to cut the leaves away.
To allow new growth cut the stems above the growth point. If you think your kale is bolting pick the leaves immediately before they have before they begin to change texture and flavor. Cut all the stems with hand clippers if you want to harvest the whole plant.
Always leave a few leaves on the plant and never cut the bud at the center of the plant otherwise the production will stop. If kale gets too tall you need to chop its head at about 4-5 inches from the soil. When kale begins to bolt the leaves become more tough and bitter and suffer a diminished nutrient count.
If you cut the central bud your plant will not be able to produce more leaves. This will leave the smaller ones intact so the plant can continue growing. Always remove the lowest largest and outermost leaves first.
If you keep picking from the centre you can postpone this a while longer. You need to cut the outside leaves first. Cut or gently tear the leaf youre removing all the way down to the base of the plant where it is attached to the main stem.
When harvesting kale take as many leaves as you think youll use.
How to cut kale off plant. The video above from Renees Garden Seeds shows you an easy way to harvest baby kale leave. Smaller and younger leaves are near the top. Cut the largest leaves off with your pruning shears.
Overwintered plants will eventually bolt producing yellow flowers in spring signaling that its time to remove them and make room for other crops. Use clean sterilized shears to trim the cutting off where it meets the main stem of the plant. Simply gather the small plants into handfuls and cut the stems.
Always harvest the older larger leaves that are closest to the bottom of the stalk and be sure to take each leaf stem-and-all. When kale begins to bolt the leaves become more tough and bitter and suffer a diminished nutrient count. Start cutting leaves for cooking when plant is 8 to 10 inches high.
If you cook the kale the stems will become more tender. Always remove the lowest largest and outermost leaves first. If you cut the central bud your plant will not be able to produce more leaves.
Burpee Seeds recommends waiting to harvest your kale plants until after a frost. You can begin to cut individual leaves off the kale when the plant is approximately 8 to 10 inches high starting with the outside leaves first. Thats your first harvest.
Harvesting After a Frost. Cutting leaves off will just leave a nub to rot. Clear up any dropped leaves from the ground and weed around the plants to help prevent pests and diseases from hanging around on the soil.
Boil the leaves for 1-2 minutes in water with a little salt added to it.
How to cut kale off plant. So long as you continue to harvest in this fashion the plant will continue to produce new leaves from the top as it grows taller. Burpee Seeds recommends waiting to harvest your kale plants until after a frost. Start cutting leaves for cooking when plant is 8 to 10 inches high.
The video above from Renees Garden Seeds shows you an easy way to harvest baby kale leave. Cut the largest leaves off with your pruning shears. This will leave the smaller ones intact so the plant can continue growing.
Clear up any dropped leaves from the ground and weed around the plants to help prevent pests and diseases from hanging around on the soil. If you cook the kale the stems will become more tender. On a kale plant this is the central portion of the plant where stems converge and new growth emerges.
Alternatively you can harvest the entire plant cut 2 inches above the ground. Cutting leaves off will just leave a nub to rot. To allow new growth cut the stems above the growth point.
Pick the leaves one by one and be sure to leave the smaller central leaves on the plant along with the bud at the center. Hold the leaf you want to cut with 1 hand. Cut or gently tear the leaf youre removing all the way down to the base of the plant where it is attached to the main stem.
Lightly massaging the leaves can help restore some of the sweetness that might have been lost. While you cant grow kale from a single leaf you can grow it from a cutting of a robust side stem that has several leaves. You can begin to cut individual leaves off the kale when the plant is approximately 8 to 10 inches high starting with the outside leaves first.