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Post by binnylou on Sept 23, 2019 10:37:26 GMT -5
Collards are looking much better with the cooler temps.
Kale is looking good too. Harvest for the freezer is waiting for a bit of frost.
Kale, Collards, and Celery are all growing in the same raised hugelkulture bed, which enjoys mid day protection from the sun, provided by huge old oak tree.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Oct 19, 2019 15:09:54 GMT -5
I just found this thread binnylou started in September. I can't believe it got by me before now. I do like my kale --- I was kale before kale was cool. I've got mostly Red Russian, as well as some Scarlet and Dazzling Blue. The RR is lush, and the others (planted a couple of weeks later) are coming into their own nicely. I was going to pick a bunch today, but I welcomed the needed rain instead. For anything other than baked or sauteed, I rub kale a bit before using it. Stack a few leaves, fold and gently roll between your hands, then chop coarsely. Makes a difference with the texture and sweetens the flavor. |
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Post by binnylou on Oct 19, 2019 16:02:44 GMT -5
I was just in the garden, Wheelgarden , admiring the kale. We had morning rain and now the kale area is in dappled sunshine. Sometimes I think I enjoy growing it more than cooking/eating it. Thanks for the tips about rolling it. We have one more batch of collards to be cooked, then I'll be working on getting kale in to the freezer.
I made a batch of stovetop kale using the recipe that Peter ( fosselfarm🕊) and ncgarden shared. I think it was from the old forum. I have it printed and in my tried and true recipe book. We ate the whole thing...no leftovers. |
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Post by desertwoman on Oct 19, 2019 17:11:01 GMT -5
I had one Red Russian kale plant standing until a few days ago. I'm usually picking from it until at least late November. The unusually cold overnight turn in weather hit it too hard. It is (burnt) toast. RR is my all-time favorite kale.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Oct 19, 2019 17:39:32 GMT -5
binnylou , what steps do you take to freeze your kale? Do you freeze it whole-leaf, or chop it, or blanch it? I remember that stovetop recipe post from long ago, but I don't remember the actual recipe.
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Post by binnylou on Oct 19, 2019 17:52:35 GMT -5
Wheelgarden, I clean it and remove the center rib. Using a pie dish (or a dish that will hold a bunch), I microwave just until it starts to "melt". This doesn't take long. Stay at the microwave and watch...maybe just a minute. Then it goes to a cold/ice bath to stop the cooking. Then in to the salad spinner to shake off the moisture. Package and freeze according to how I'm going to be using it.
We will probably use vacuum sealed bags this year.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Oct 19, 2019 17:59:27 GMT -5
When using vac seal bags for greens, I blanch and dry them, as binnylou mentions, then pack them in the bags, in various weights used, Then I pre-freeze them, just enough that the water won't squeeze out, then seal them. |
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Post by binnylou on Oct 19, 2019 18:24:42 GMT -5
Do you freeze it whole-leaf, or chop it, or blanch it? It's recipe ready before I microwave it. Just mostly a rough chop, mostly for soups. |
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Post by Wheelgarden on Oct 20, 2019 17:14:08 GMT -5
Some of the Red Russian kale: 
...and a pocket of Astro arugula (I see a weed I missed, dag-nabbit!) just because:  |
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Post by binnylou on Oct 20, 2019 19:34:54 GMT -5
Your kale isn't near as curly as mine...I bet yours is much easier to clean, Wheelgarden. |
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Post by Mumsey on Oct 21, 2019 4:31:34 GMT -5
binnylou, I grew curly kale, some pest got most of it. I wasn't paying attention to it on the far edge of the garden. But Dad has a really long row of it. He also has Siberian Kale. Have yet to try that. I'll have to get some of his to freeze.
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Post by binnylou on Nov 9, 2019 14:34:33 GMT -5
When you do end of season kale harvest, do you save those smaller, young and tender leaves for something special? Or package them separately for the freezer?
I harvested a few days ago and today is the day to be done with them. To the freezer they go.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Nov 9, 2019 19:14:57 GMT -5
I'n addtion to what I freeze, I keep a nice bag of kale to chill in the fridge, it does store well. Especially to go with things like the two big sweet potatoes I'm fixing to eat.
I've got a rotation of three plantings, and picked the September-planted down to the crown and froze them yesterday. They, and the October plantings, will get covered within the hoops. I left the smallest leaves alone so they'll become bigger over winter. *knocks on wood*
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 10, 2019 5:17:30 GMT -5
binnylou, I just picked all those yummy little top leaves. I make Kale salad with them, it's a balsamic vinegar/olive oil salad. They do keep well in fridge and that salad is even better the next day.
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