Kale is a great vegetable packed with goodness and easy enough to grow provided you follow a few simple rules. With fiber, iron, calcium and several vitamins as well kale could almost be described as a wonder crop so no surprise that it’s so popular. In this article which I found on Rodale’s Organic Life website Zoe Schaeffer takes you through the ten essential points to bear in mind when growing kale.

It?s anti-inflammatory, packed with fiber, iron, calcium, and?vitamins K, A, and C. Plus, your smoothie recipes just aren?t the same without it. Yup, kale is pretty amazing, and a great way to get more of it is by growing your own. Even if you?re not a seasoned gardener, it?s easy to find success with this green. Just three or four plants can supply a family of four a nice weekly harvest. You don’t even need a backyard; kale grows great in containers, too, like this Dura Cotta Planter Bowl?(just make sure your pot has at least a 12-inch diameter, and use well-draining potting mix). Here?s how to grow your own kale, whether you?re planting directly into the ground or using container gardens.

When To StartThough kale will produce in warm weather, it has a tendency to become woody and bitter. It?s best when allowed to mature in cool temps. Start spring seeds indoors approximately six weeks before the last frost to give plants a chance to mature before summer?s worst heat. Direct seeds will mature in 55 to 75 days, while transplants will speed up the process, ready for harvest in about 30 to 40 days. Plant your crop again in the fall, 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected frost?you can keep harvesting even after snowfall. Plant more seeds or transplants every 2 to 3 weeks for a long, continuous harvest.
Where To Plant
If you?re planting during the cool season, do so where your crop will get full sun. If you?re growing during warmer temps, plant in partial shade.

See more at Rodale’s Organic Life