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The Complete Guide to Lacinato Kale Plant: Care Tips and Benefits
Are you looking for a nutritious and easy-to-grow vegetable to add to your garden? Look no further than the lacinato kale plant, also known as dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale.
This variety of kale is not only delicious but is also packed with nutrients that offer numerous health benefits.
In this article, we will provide you with a complete guide on how to grow, care for, and harvest lacinato kale plants.
What is Lacinato Kale?
Lacinato kale is a dark green leafy vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family.
It has long leaves with an embossed texture resembling dinosaur skin, hence its nickname “dinosaur” or “Tuscan” kale.
The plant can grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide when matured.
Care Tips for Lacinato Kale Plants
Growing lacinato kale in your garden requires minimal effort as it’s easy to maintain.
Below are some tips on how best to care for your lacinato plants:
- Planting Location: When planting your seeds or seedlings, choose an area in full sun or partial shade.
The soil should be moist but well-draining and rich in organic matter.
- Watering: To prevent drying out of the soil surface during hot weather conditions always water deeply directly around the base of each plant at least once per week (depending on rainfall) keeping leaves dry where possible.
- Fertilizing: Apply nitrogen-rich fertilizers such as compost tea every two weeks until harvest time.
- Pest Control: Lacinato kale is susceptible to pests like aphids, cutworms, and cabbage worms.
Introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings can help keep them at bay while also promoting healthy growth.
- Weeding: Regularly weed your kale bed to reduce competition for nutrients from other plants.
- Harvesting: You can start harvesting the leaves when they have reached 8-10 inches in length.
Pick the outer leaves first and leave the inner ones so that the plant continues to grow new foliage.
The Health Benefits of Lacinato Kale
Lacinato kale is not only delicious but is also loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that offer numerous health benefits.
Below are some health benefits of lacinato kale:
- Vitamin C: One cup of lacinato kale contains more than 100% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C which helps boost immunity against diseases.
- Vitamin K: This nutrient plays an essential role in blood clotting and bone metabolism.
- Beta-Carotene: This antioxidant found in lacinato kale helps maintain eye health by preventing oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
Cooking with Lacinato Kale
Lactinado Kale has a sweeter taste compared to other varieties making it perfect for cooking.
Here are some ideas on how you can incorporate it into your meals:
- Sautéed: Heat oil or butter over medium heat in a skillet then add chopped garlic before adding sliced pieces of washed & stemmed Lactinado Kale leaves cook until tender about 8-10 minutes
- Raw: Add chopped Lacinato kale leaves to your salad or smoothies for extra nutrition.
- Baked: Bake kale chips seasoned with sea salt for a healthy snack.
Conclusion
Growing lacinato kale is easy and rewarding.
With proper care, it can yield an abundant harvest of nutritious vegetables that offer numerous health benefits.
Remember to provide your plants with enough sunlight, water them regularly, and protect them from pests.
Whether you decide to sauté, bake or add lacinato kale leaves raw on salads this vegetable offers a delicious way to boost your health.
