Kale Farming is a hardy cabbage that produces straight stems with large leaves and no compact heads. It grows in exceptionally harsh cold weather. Cool-weather brings out the nutty and sweet flavor of this highly nutritious leafy green.
Farmers can sow kale seeds in the spring, and you can set out very early ((3 to 5 weeks before the last frost). But in many areas, farmers grow kale in the autumn season, when temperatures are cooler. When the leaves mature in cold weather, kale tastes better.
Kale is growing well in raised beds, traditional garden beds, or containers. It’s nutritious in addition to omelettes, salads, stir-fries, casseroles, and other dishes.
Complete Process for Kale Farming in India
When you start a plant to plant, you need to know the essential sections to help in profitable commercial farming. We can provide information related to more reliable tractors in kale farming. In addition, we can recommend Mahindra 275, which aids in the whole process of “planting to harvest,”.
When to Plant Kale
- You can sow the kale seeds indoors or sow directly in the garden.
- When the soil is workable in the garden, direct sow the seeds outdoors for an early summer harvest.
- Sow the seeds approximately 3 months before the first fall frost date for a fall or winter harvest.
- Farmers can plant the young kale set out in the garden 3 to 5 weeks before the last spring date in early spring.
- If temperatures are likely to drop significantly below freezing, it is best to cover young plants at night.
- For a fall harvest, young kale plants can be planted 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost. Kale will withstand harsh frosts (25 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit) without damage.
- In areas with mild winters like the Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast, kale can be grown as a winter vegetable or undercover outside.
Choosing a Planting Site
- Kale grows best in full sun but needs partial shade. You should keep the pH of soil ideally 6.5 to 6.8 to discourage disease, but kale is tolerant of more alkaline soils up to a pH of 7.5. (Test your pH with a kit from garden store and your local Cooperative Extension office)
- Amend your soil with nitrogen-rich compost or blood meal, depending on the soil test. (If you haven’t tested your soil, mix in a few inches of compost).
- You should take the soil that is well-draining and also rich to have tender leaves. Then, when planting, add fertilizer (1-1/2 cups 5-10-10 fertilizer per 25 feet of row in the top 3 to 4 inches of soil).
How to Plant Kale
- Sow 1/4 seed to 1/2 inch deep in well-drained, light soil if you are sowing seeds.
- After 2 weeks, thin the seedlings 8 to 12 inches apart. Kale likes a lot of space to stretch out.
- If you raise young plants (transplants), plant them at the depth they are growing in the container—space 18 to 24 inches apart.
- After planting, water the plants well.
How to Grow Kale
- It is important to keep kale well watered and fed. If rainfall is inconsistent, add 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week (about 1 gallon per square foot).
- Feed kale regularly with constant-release plant food.
- Mulch the soil to reduce weeds and keep kale cool as it will not grow in hot climates.
- After the first hardening in the fall, mulch the soil again. Kale plants may continue to produce leaves in the winter.
How to Harvest Kale
- Farmers are ready to harvest kale when the leaves are about the size of your hand.
- Choose about a handful of leaves per crop. Begin harvesting older leaves first from the lowest part of the plant. (Discard any yellowed or cracked leaves)
- Avoid picking at the terminal bud (found in the top center of the plant), as this will help keep the plant productive.
- The kale will continue to rise until it reaches 20°F. After that, it tastes even sweeter with a touch of frost.
- Protect your kale from the cold with row covers if you want to extend your harvest. Or, make a temporary cover with a tarp and old blanket covered with hay bales. Here are some more season-extending ideas.
- You can eat small, tender leaves raw, and you can use them in salads.
- Cut and cook larger leaves such as spinach, but be sure to remove tough ribs before cooking.
Along with farming process information, you should also consider the better equipment in farming, so choose such a tractor that is effective in agriculture. So you can choose the new holland 3630 as the best tractor. Likewise, you can also choose the Mahindra tractor 475 tractor.
For more information regarding kale farming Business in India, stay tuned with us.
