Vege Of The Month
KALE
I honestly used to turn my nose up at this frilly green, but after growing and eating kale for a season I’m an absolute convert. Packed with calcium and vitamin A and C, cool weather brings out the sweet, you can harvest multiple picks from just a few plants.
to soups and green smoothies.
Garden Planting
Plant to Harvest Time
Two months from seed, or begin picking leaves one month from planting seedlings.
Growing Tips
•
but will tolerate shade • Sow seeds in seed raising mix in covered seed trays to protect from slugs • Plant developed • Fertilize and water regularly
• Pick the outer leaves new leaves develop from the centre of the plant • Watch out for slugs and snails when seedlings are small, and cabbage aphids as plants mature
Now is the perfect time to get your seed trays going and sow seeds of broccoli, cabbage,
Garden Harvesting
and spinach. You can also sow beetroot, carrot, radish and turnip seeds directly into your garden at this time of year in a sunny well drained position.
My leeks were an absolute triumph this year, and my late crop of runner beans are in full swing. As it’s been warm and sunny I’ve managed to grow a few late season zucchini too. I’m still harvesting my hardy
I don’t know about you but there are insects everywhere in my garden at the moment. I’m making sure I trim away any decaying plant matter as this is just the type of environment they like to hide in. A sprinkling of egg shells around the base of your plants can deter slugs, and if the birds in your neighbourhood are as cheeky as mine, I’m covering a lot of my seedlings with netting to keep them protected.
How is your garden growing? Get in Touch! touch with your gardening stories, we’d love to hear from you.
fruiting. What are you
RECIPE of the Mont h
ROASTED CHICKPEA AND KALE SALAD ally good salad base recipe that I like to use. It’s one you can whip up quickly, and it’s easily jazzed up by adding extra ingredients. Ingredients 2 to 3 cups chopped kale ¼ to ½ cup roasted chickpeas
Chopped cooked kumara, mandarin, avocado, and bacon to taste Drizzle of tahini dressing
Dressing 2 tablespoons tahini 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar Water to reach desired consistency
Kale Prep Raw kale can be a bit intense, so to soften it up and reduce any bitterness before adding in the salad, I hand mix it with a little olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Salad Method your choice of cooked kumara, bacon, chopped mandarins and avocado to a large salad bowl. 2. Toss lightly to mix through. 3. Drizzle with tahini dressing, or your favourite home-made dressing.
Roasted Chickpeas and rinse well. Dry with a cloth or paper towel (there’s no need to remove the skins, but if some 2. Spread out on a lined baking tray along with ½ teaspoon of olive oil, and a sprinkling of your choice of spices. I like a combo of paprika, turmeric, cumin, and salt and pepper.
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