Now we will introduce to you another invaluable plant which we grow in our gardens - kale. Kale is a highly valued plant by cooks, fans of organic food and florists who add differently colored kale leaves to their bouquets of flowers.

Despite the fact that kale was well known around the world, it appeared in Bulgaria after the country’s liberation from the Ottoman Empire. Then Bulgarian gardeners began working in Western Europe and contributed to the introduction of this vegetable to Bulgaria.

Also called Leafy or Curly Cabbage (Curly kale, Brassica oleracea Acephala Group), Kale is a cultivated type of cabbage which forms a leaf mass but without making heads. It reaches a height of up to 2 meters. Depending on the variety, the colors of the leaves vary from all shades of green to brown and purple. It blooms in early summer and is propagated by seeds.

Why is kale so useful?

As it is a frost-resistent plant, it is highly respected in northern latitudes because it contains many useful elements that support the health and give endurance to the body. The high content of sulforaphane makes it one of the most powerful anti-cancer tools. It is rich in magnesium, copper, calcium, iron, phosphorus and potassium. The phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin act as a prevention for various eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

Growing it in your home garden.

Kale is propagated by seeds which are used for spring seedlings. When the seedlings reach height of about 15 cm, they are transplanted into the ground at about 30 cm from each other. Kale does not suffer from diseases but attracts the cabbage white butterfly. One of the biological methods to control it is spraying the leaves with a diluted solution of nettle or powdering them with wood ash.

Ways of cooking and consumption

Of course, the best way to consume kale is freshly picked from the garden. The young and succulent leaves are most delicious. When using the larger ones, it is necessary to remove the central vein. Kale is an excellent addition to salads and can also be served as a side dish for various types of meat and vegetarian main courses. It is suitable for making smoothies, and can also be stewed or roasted as chips.

The team of "BOTANICA" GUEST HOUSE is inviting you visit us and taste some of our dishes, made with kale.

Sources:

5 Рецепти с кейл (личен блог на Екатерина Мирчева),

https://mycandykitchen.blogspot.com/2019/03/5-5-kale-recipes.html,

accessed on 15.12.2021(in Bulgarian);

Кейлът - достъпната за всички нас суперхрана,

https://www.hera.bg/s.php?n=3876, accessed on 13.11.2021 (in Bulgarian);

Осем неща, които не знаете за кейл,

https://bit.ly/farmhopping-blog-8kale, accessed on 13.12.2021 (in Bulgarian);

Кейл, Листно зеле, Къдраво зеле,

https://bit.ly/medpedia-framar-kale, accessed on 13.12.2021 (in Bulgarian);

Кейл - супехраната за студените месеци,

https://bit.ly/spisanie8-kale, accessed on 12.12.2021 (in Bulgarian).