Nicole Johnsey Burke started kale seeds indoors in February, transplanted them before spring break, and harvested daily from May through February. She used nasturtiums, calendula, and chives to manage pests, but pulled the plants early when caterpillars took over.
Chapters
This is the story of how I grew these giant kale trees that I harvested to make a daily smoothie from May to February. It starts in February when the snow is on the ground. And I started these seeds indoors by March. I moved them out to the garden right before spring break. By April, these plants were starting to take off, started growing quickly. By May, it was time for my first harvest and of course, my first green smoothie. Every day I'd pick more kale and make a different kind of smoothie. This one was blueberry, lemon and banana. And I just kept harvesting Kale Point. It was a full on forest and the green smoothies just kept coming. I know you're going to ask about the pest and I use nasturtiums and calendula and chives to help with that. But one day I was harvesting and there were just so many caterpillars. I decided it was time for the kale to leave the garden. I did harvest all the leaves so I could have a smoothie every morning till February when the process started all over again.