Down to earth: Super kale
Rain, rain, rain who said it wouldn’t come? Along with the rain comes the fungi, reminding us that winter fast approaches. Hopefully your gardens are full of carrots, beetroot, silver beet/chard, celery, leeks, peas, broad beans and brassicas to sustain you into spring.
Of all the brassicas, kale is believed to be the oldest variety. It has large leaves unlike other heady, brassicas. There are several varieties available here such as curly kale (scotch or borecole) with very frizzy leaves, Siberian kale (eg Raggedy Jack or Russian Red) with broader leaves that curl on edges, and palm tree cabbage (Lacinato, Dinosaur kale) with narrow, recurved, savoyed leaves.
Super rich in nutrients (much needed especially throughout the winter) like vitamin K, A and C (higher than oranges), plus manganese, calcium, potassium, copper, vitamin B6, and tryptophan. Also high in magnesium, iron, vitamin E, B3, B2, B1, folate, omega 3 fatty acids, and protein. Kale has also been shown to combat several cancers through release of organosulphur compounds when eaten.
Great cropper: when planted in early summer they can be picked continuously (use oldest leaves) from autumn into spring. Plantings in late summer-autumn should be ready for picking winter-spring.
They are winter hardy and can withstand even hard frosts unlike many greens even silver beet. In fact frosts improve their flavour.
Easy to grow: like other brassicas they grow best in rich soil with some added lime. They need adequate water especially when establishing. Tend to cope better than other brassicas with caterpillar pests.
Plant deep up to bottom leaves with added blood and bone or fish meal with compost. Space at least 60cm apart. A family will need about 6 plants (try different varieties) for good supply. Supplement feed with nitrogenous liquid fertiliser to encourage continuous leafy growth.
They are biennial (flower following year) so allow some plants to got to seed (remove other brassicas like cabbage as they will cross) and simply transplant young seedlings when they come up naturally in late spring into a new prepared bed.
Rotate kale (and other brassicas) around the garden to avoid build up of harmful organisms.
Fruit care
Plant fruit trees/shrubs.
Prune pipfruit (apples, pears etc).
Prune berrryfruits: red and white currants back by a third. Blackcurrants remove all wood that has fruited leaving only young shoots. Gooseberries prune into vase shape. Raspberries remove old canes. Tie up any new canes.
Remove diseased or insect infested fruits and leaves from around trees.
Sow orchard understorey plants and plant spring bulbs.
Cut understorey down and mulch around trees.
Feed orchard with dolomite lime, rock phosphate, manure and woody compost.
Prepare new strawberry beds. Add compost rich raised bed with leaf mould and mulch with pine needles. Plant runners out now into fresh beds or wait till spring. Remove diseased leaves off existing plants.
Divide rhubarb.
Spray everything with diluted seaweed solution. Copper spray on stone fruit.
Herb Care
Complete harvest herb seed and dry leaves for winter/spring culinary use eg basil and thyme.
Sow seed of rosemary, thyme and chives.
Transplant rooted cuttings from last year. Take cuttings of rosemary, sage, lavender etc.
Vegetable Care
Harvest kumara. Sun-dry tubers for a few days to cure and then further in the hot water cupboard (high humidity) for another week. Store in boxes with hay, straw or newspaper between each layer and tubers not touching. Put boxes in cool dry place, and rodent proof.
Prepare asparagus bed: dig a deep trench (up to 60cm deep). Add rich organic weed-free material. Add sand if your soil is heavy.
Prepare garlic beds. Plant racombole (serpent garlic).
Harvest pumpkins.
Collect dry beans for seed. Shellout and dry in airing cupboard before storing with some rice.
Save seed from best salads, silver beet, leeks etc. (Process-clean, dry, freeze and store).
Prepare ground (add lime and compost) for broad beans and peas, and sow.
Plant winter brassicas into fertile bed.
Sow/plant salads and winter greens for ongoing supply.
Sow/plant beneficial flowers e.g. calendula.
Hothouse: Clean for better light. Liquid fertilise weekly. Ventilate. Spray diluted milk solution vs powdery mildew. Plant with winter salads or green crops.
For transplanting: All seeds 26 May. Leafy greens (summer spinach, spinach beet, lettuce, endive, Chinese cabbage and cabbages), red onions, broccoli and cauliflower. Flowers, eg Snap dragons.
Sow direct: All seeds 26 May. Mesclun salad. Peas and broad beans. Radish, spring onions, spring carrots (cover)(also 24–25 May). Flowers, eg violas.
Plant: Best 30 May–12 June. Salad greens, silver beet/chard, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbages.
General Garden Care
Lime the lawn.
Take a soil test for garden and orchard areas (try www.hillslaboratories) and organise minerals to offset deficiencies.
Make lots of compost. Turn heaps.
Collect seaweed/seagrass.
Sol Morgan, GroWise Consultancy
