Sunday, March 24, 2013

Kale Vegetable of the Year



Botanically speaking kale, cabbage, broccoli, collards and cauliflower are all Brassica oleracea . They are simply considered different cultivars. Kale is considered the most ancient form and maybe the closest thing to wild cabbage.  Brassica oleracea is from Europe and Kale was a staple for the ancient Greeks and Romans. Tasty, nutritious and easy to grow it spread quickly over the world.  Kale is a real superstar when it comes to nutrition. One cup of chopped raw Kale has over 200% DV of vitamin A, 130 % vitamin C, and a whopping 648.% vitamin K. Kale is also packed with minerals, Calcium 9%, Iron 6% and Manganese 26% all this in less than 35 calories.  By comparison cousin cauliflower has no vitamin A, and only 20% vitamin K, and 77% vitamin C.
Kale is easy to grow, scatter seeds on cultivated land and lightly rake, seeds germinate in 3-4 days. Start seeds in late winter or early fall.  

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