Kale Obsessed
How I mastered growing Kale, how to prepare it, and how to keep your plant thriving!
I am OBSESSED with Kale. And maybe I’m the only one?
Whenever I harvest Dino Kale, I can’t help but admire her beautiful dark green texture.
The three varieties I am growing this summer are:
Curly Kale: My absolute favorite variety. I recommend this variety for beginners because it has the most versatile food uses, and I put this kale in everything! From smoothies to pasta, sautéing in food, to salad.
Dino (Lacinato) Kale: My close second favorite! This variety is a little more fibrous. It really needs to be massaged well before consuming to help with digestion. But its dark green color really elevates simple dishes.
Red Russian Kale: Personally, my least favorite texture-wise. I was given free seeds, which is why I grew them. I find the texture to be more flimsy, and I find this variety is more susceptible to whiteflies. Ew!
Tips to keep your kale healthy and thriving all season long!
Living in New Jersey, Zone 7a, I started these seedlings in early March. I have been harvesting from the plant since late May, and expect to continue harvesting well into December!
THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP: Continuously harvest
This year I harvest the plants weekly and noticed more kale than ever growing in the garden. Benefits of Consistently Harvesting:
Encourages plant growth. Did you know kale can grow like a tree? One to three feet tall! Always harvest the outer leaves and leave at minimum 4-5 leaves in the center.
Prevents whiteflies from taking over because their eggs don’t have time to hatch. Last year I didn’t harvest consistently and had a horrible whitefly problem in my kale… not this year!
People often ask me, “Brittney, how do you prepare kale?” I’ll share my secrets 👀
Massaging kale is key! This helps to break down the fibrous cell walls of the plant, making it easier to digest and chew. AKA Less tummy aches.
Kale White Bean Salad: My go-to salad I make 1-2x a week because it’s so easy and delicious! I omit the maple syrup and add any other garden veg I have on hand like cherry tomatoes or peppers. You can also add quinoa or rice to it.
Berry Kale smoothie: Perfect if you want your nutrition on the go. You don’t need a perfect recipe for this. My go-to smoothie has mixed berries and bananas as a base. Any seeds like chia or hemp seeds, and I’ll throw in kale or carrots.
Lentil Kale Sausage Soup: This is what I bring to potlucks, great for when I need something cozy or want leftovers galore. I like adding sausage to this recipe, but not required.
Add Kale to any Pasta Dish: Seriously! Just add the kale during the last 3-5 minutes of preparation to gently steam the kale; it’s an easy way to add nutrients. Anything you would add spinach to, you can add kale to.
I am hoping that by now, maybe you are as obsessed with kale as I am, but if not, I encourage you to experiment with the versatility of kale and let me know if you’ve had a kale change of heart!
Have Gardening Questions? Next Tuesday, join me in our virtual Garden Club!
Just bring yourself, any gardening questions, or none at all. This will be a space to learn alongside community, share stories, and nurture the gardener within.
Next Tuesday: August 4th, 2026 at 7-8 pm EST.
The best part is, it’s free ;)
Once you fill out the RSVP form, you will be on the list to receive the meeting link.
Happy growing!
xx Brittney
Can’t wait to try these recipes <3
The Kale's do look quite pretty