That does it — even though it’s awful late in the growing season and a frost is threatening… I’m going to try growing kale.
…and then see if I like eating it.
Of course, I’m now reading up as much as possible online about doing this, and it seems as if kale (like cabbages) do very well in the winter, and taste better after the frost turns those starches which make kale famous for being bitter into sugars… which makes kale famous for being less bitter.
Best advice so far and the method I will try:
I use well-rotted compost in the planting furrow, covering it with an inch of soil before I sow seeds. To insure continued growth, I use fish emulsion, but manure tea would do as well. Pour the fertilizer along the row, about three inches from week-old seedlings. Two weeks later, repeat the process.
Of course, seeing as the first frost is due in about a week… we may be going with a furrow and a bit of well-rotted chicken manure to keep it as warm as I can. Downside? Kale don’t like nitrogen… and boy does chicken manure have that in spades.
The other option is to mound them up and see where that gets me. Or buy seedlings at Lowes or Southern States if they’re still there. Might be a bit too late for this fall growing season, though there’s still time for anything with a bulb — onions, garlic, turnips, beets, cabbages.
Otherwise, I’ll see what this year’s kale, lettuce, and spinach get me. Last year was phenomenal though warm. This year? I predict a wet and cold winter.