Organic Outdoor Winter Kale and Parsley

Organic Outdoor Red Russian Kale

   I have been using the "cut and come again" technique I believe about four times now, and you can see the re-growth results on this plant here which has reproduced with fully nutritional leafy greens ready for the picking. This was the first cultivar of kale I grew when I started gardening so long ago. Kale is a very versatile leafy green that can be used in a variety of different culinary uses and different types of cuisine (i.e. European, American, English, Asian). The re-growth rate of this specific cultivar, for me at least, is about a week to a week and a half. Which is perfect for me because I use kale quite frequently for various favourite dishes of mine, such as ramen and baked chips. Kale is an extremely easy plant and grows throughout the winter, if you cover them with burlap as I did which keeps them warm and lets them mature but at a slower rate.

Organic Outdoor Giant Italian Parsley

   Parsley is a staple in our house hold, and I am sure it is a staple in many other house holds as well. This plant hold so extremely well in frost condition and throughout winter. This plant was the only thing left thriving in one of my outdoor raised garden beds. This cultivar is an extremely easily grow and holds up to anything, I would definitely recommend first time gardeners to grow this specific cultivar, because its so extremely easy to maintain and grow.

   This goes to show that there are some veggies and herbs out there that will thrive in winter conditions. Thanks again for reading and following/subscribing to my social media, it means so much to me and I always follow back! Until next time friends...


¤ Keep it GREEN and Keep it GROWING!


HyperSmash

Indoor Organic Potted Veggie Plants: End of Week 4

Organic Flamingo Pink Swiss Chard

   Another week has gone by and more progress has been shown for each individual plant! Unfortunately my "vegetarian" cat ate the majority of my Flamingo Pink Swiss Chard sproutlings, which gave me no choice but to plant some more seeds. These are those seeds and are about a week old. So their growth is actually pretty decent. I'm hoping these will be ready for transplanting with my other plants.

Organic Lacinato "Dinosaur" Kale

    What a pretty texture that is developing on these Lacinato or Dinosaur Kale. I love eating and growing kale, it's just easy to grow and incredibly versatile culinary ingredient. This cultivar is one of my top choices for kale, and will continue to be until another cultivar knocks it out of the park. I use my spinach soil mixture for my kale plants which has lots of nitrogen in it.

Organic Bloomsdale Spinach

    What can I say? Ever since I saw Popeye as a boy I HAD to have spinach. This spinach is one of my favourites because it isn't very picky and works well in both my outdoor and indoor organic gardens. This spinach usually takes about sixty days for me to fully mature but I have heard and read peoples' posts/comments stating they have had it fully mature at day fifty-five. Just remember any spinach thrives off of nitrogen, so make sure to have lots of manure to spare!

Organic Tronchuda Kale

    Yet again another kale! This kale I am growing specifically for culinary use in stocks, stews and soups. This kale cultivar derives from Portugal, and is known for its use in Portuguese Soup. You are looking at about 3 weeks of actual growth since I got the seeds from Baker Creek Farms quite late. But overall this plant is a real producer and has excellent growth rate. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to grow kale! You cannot find this cultivar in your average market either.

That is it for this weeks indoor organic potted plants, be on the look out for future posts/videos on gardening and adventuring! Thanks again for following and reading my posts, I am glad I get to share my grow-log with you fine people. Until next time...

¤ Keep it GREEN and Keep it GROWING





HyperSmash

Organic Winter Kale

Organically Grown Kale: Red Russian & Lacinato "Dinosaur"

    There has been a craze about kale being delicious and nutritious, which is completely true. I've been growing kale ever since I started gardening and it is quite addicting.There are so many different cultivars of kale from the average kale you will see in your everyday market. Which all taste extremely amazing in stews, soups, broiled, as chips or side dishes.

Organically Grown Red Russian Kale

    I have two cultivar of kale growing in my garden this winter, which are obviously a winter-hardy crop. Both kales' have always had a great reproduction rate when using the "cut and come again" method. They are being grown in my outdoor raised garden beds currently and are about 56 days into growth from germination.

    I will continue to keep growing different cultivars of every type of edible plant out there, so that these plants will not go extinct. Each of these cultivars are special and original in their own way that is unmistakable for anyone to miss.

Organically Grown Lacinato "Dinosaur" Kale

    It would be an amazing thing if everyone started growing some of the food the consume. As for me, I will continue growing and providing my family and friends with healthy exotic food that you can only get fresh from growing it yourself. Until next time folks.....

 ¤ Keep it Green and Keep it Growing! ¤



HyperSmash

Kale and You! Benefits and breeds of Healthy Leafy Greens!

Organic Nero di Toscana Kale

       Kale is known as one of the healthiest vegetables on our planet, and is categorized in the species Brassica oleracea. Which includes a variety of vegetables; broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, and brussels sprouts. Kale even dates back to being consumed in the Middle Ages, that is right! Knights, Lords and Kings used to consume this nutrient rich vegetable constantly! The way majority of people identify different varieties are from the length of the stem, colour, and leaf shape. Each and every single Kale has a distinct taste, this I tell you through experience.

Organic Red Russian Kale

Cultivars

   Cultivar means that the plant or plants were Cultivated and are a Variety of said plant. That's how the term was made by Liberty Hyde Bailey. So don't get confused with the term! Here is a short list of different cultivars of Kale.

  ¤ Curly-leafed (Scots Kale)
  ¤ Straight-leafed
  ¤ Rape Kale**
  ¤ Leaf and Spear (Cross between Curly & Straight-leafed Kale)
  ¤ Cavolo Nero*
  ¤ Jersey Kale (Cow Cabbage)

(**Such a bad name for a Kale right?! There is a reason for it! They call it "Rape Kale" or "Hungry Gap" because they named it for the period after winter when barely any crop is harvested)

(*Also known as Black Cabbage, Tuscan Cabbage, Tuscan Kale, Lacinato and Dinosaur Kale)

Health Benefits

   Kale has a load of benefits most people don't even know about. Such as having a high count of beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, calcium, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Did you know that once you start chopping or mincing Kale you release sulforaphane? Sulforaphane is a chemical that contains potent anti-cancer properties. (Only bad thing about sulforaphane is it decreases in Kale when you boil it, but if you steam, microwave or stir-fry your Kale the loss of sulforaphane isn't as significant) Kale also is a source of indole-3-carbinol, which is a chemical that boosts DNA repair in cells and blocks the growth of cancer cells. The final thing I know about Kale is there is a group of resins known as bile acid sequestrants that have been known to lower cholesterol and decrease your bodies absorption of dietary fat. (Steaming your Kale increases the bile properties).

  That's it for today's vegetable information! Next I'll have the various ways and maybe even some recipes of how I consume this amazing crop!

Until next time folks! Keep it Green and Keep it Growing! Ciao!


HyperSmash

A Rain Storm in the Garden!

This morning after I woke up to the wonderful pitter-patter sound of Mother Nature providing the desert I live in with much appreciated rain, (Which it has been raining for the past 3 days straight now!) I decided to check on the garden to see what kind of progress it has been making since the fall/winter weather is finally settling in the Greater Las Vegas Region. I walked outside, opened the gate and found a lovely surprise! My Red Russian Kale, (I grow Nero di Toscana Kale as well, or Black Kale from Tuscany) is still growing and still plans to grow! Next, I took a walk around the garden to see what else looked good and was photo worthy for my precious viewers, you guys!

 I went near my tomatoes and about half of them are starting to produce crop, but this little guy is taking his sweet time! It's still a good looking plant, and by far needs another run of healthy manure or a mix of plant tea (Which could be the only reason why it hasn't much fruit on it as of yet!). This breed of tomato is actually from Rome, Italy. I have family out there whom has been kind and generous enough to send me these lovely and delicious tomato seeds. Thanks Ziju!!

 After seeing how my tomatoes were fairing with this streak of weird weather, I checked on my abundant Santa Fe Peppers. These specific breed people say isn't that spicy, but that's because most people pick them when they are still green. This breed will change colour to yellow and that's when it will pack one hell of a punch! I use this pepper for my ramen constantly, it has such an addictive heat level and taste!

And finally, I came round to one of my favourite herbs, Sweet Basil. I love the fragrance and flavour when this herb is used in any dish that calls for it. I noticed it was still flowering and producing new leafs and nodes as well. Which is always an exciting thing to see. One cool thing I learned about Basil when I was a young boy, the Romans used Basil to cleanse their palettes and for deodorant. Who can't say no to someone smelling like fresh herbs, am I right?! And that's how I ended my morning walk through the garden. Nothing is more beautiful nor beneficial for a family to garden together. By teaching the newer generations to garden, it ensures that they will understand their food and know when it's fresh to eat or not. Until next time fellow green thumbs and gardening enthusiasts! Keep it Green and Keep it Growing! Ciao!!!





HyperSmash