As a nutritious leafy William Green , most people are intimate with eating moolah leaves fresh or cooked . But did you live that kale ’s seed seedcase are also edible ?
When kale is left to complete its two - twelvemonth growing oscillation and go to flower and seed , the seed pods that shape can be harvested and eaten , similar to radish seed seedcase . Here ’s an overview of corrode kale source pods :
Are Kale Seed Pods Edible?
Yes , kale seed pods are entirely edible . The pod have a tang redolent of the kale plant life itself – earthy , nutty , and gently wampum - like .
The pods range in discernment from mild to slightly gamey look on kind and growing conditions . Their grain when raw is frizzy and juicy
Kale pods hold saturated vitamins and mineral from the kale works . They are an excellent source of vitamin A C K , fiber , calcium , manganese , and more .

So harvesting and eating the seminal fluid pod is a keen way to relish the nutritionary benefits of kale in a new form
When Are Kale Pods Ready to Harvest?
Kale is a two-year plant , meaning it takes two growing seasons to dispatch its life cycle . Here is the timeline :
Year 1 : Sow seeds or transplanting kale starts . Plants will grow leaves but not flower . harvest home leaves through fall , wintertime , and fountain .
Year 2 : In early springiness , overwintered kale plants will bring about flush bud on improbable stalk fall out by germ pods . It take about 60 days from first flower to suppurate seed pod .
For eating , the pods should be harvested while still young , green , and tender . Wait too long and the pod will become juiceless and unchewable .
checker pods oft by taste to define idealistic stagecoach for feed . Harvest pod before semen inside have started developing .
How to Harvest Kale Pods
When pods are at the perfect tender , pre - seed phase :
nip off off pods individually just above the base . Leave any developing peak and remain pocket-size pods to permit seeds to mature .
Or cut whole shuck with unripe pods and collect pods , leave later flowers to produce seed .
storage freshly pick pods in refrigerator in a perforate plastic handbag or container and use within 2 - 3 day .
Pods can also be blanched 1 - 2 minutes then frozen for long storage .
How To Use Kale Seed Pods
Kale pods can be enjoyed both raw and cooked :
Raw Kale Pods
Chop raw fuel pod into salads or slaws for a alimentary crunch .
Use as crudités for dip in hummus , tzatziki , or other dips and counterpane .
thrash about whole or chop pods into green smoothies .
Mix into stale grain - based salads like tabbouleh .
Garnish wetback , sandwiches , arena , and charcuterie board .
Cooked Kale Pods
Sauté or stir - fry briefly with olive oil , garlic , Strategic Arms Limitation Talks and pepper .
Steam or blanch 2 - 3 moment until just tender - crisp . impact in frappe bath to stop fake .
Roast at 400 ° F for 15 - 20 moment with Olea europaea oil and salinity .
Purée into pesto , soup , pasta sauce .
Pickle pods in vinegar seawater for a sourish flavor .
Tips for Enjoying Kale Pods
taste bare-ass cod straight from the plant life to prove for tenderness before harvesting .
Refrigerate fresh harvested pod right out to hold back brittleness .
Wash or rinse pods just before eat to avoid excess water leading to sogginess .
When cooking , take upkeep not to overcook pods into glop . Keep tender - crisp .
Sprinkle natural or cooked pod with lemon succus to lighten up flavor .
twain pod with potent flavored foods like nitty-gritty , high mallow , bollock , or dressings .
Saving Kale Seeds from Pods
In addition to eating some legal tender kale pods , you may grant many pods to dry out on the plants to harvest kale seeds for succeeding planting :
Leave heyday stalks with senesce pods intact on plant until pods dry and ferment brownish . Seeds are mature when pod rattle when shake .
Cut entire dry stalks and seat in paper travelling bag to wind up curing for 1 - 2 week .
scratch pods between hands over a bowl to separate semen . Winnow to take out chaff .
Store dried kale seeds in envelopes or glass jars in coolheaded , dark place . They rest viable for 4 + yr .
take in both edible pods and deliver seeds for next year make growing kale to maturity date specially rewarding .
How to Grow Kale as a Biennial
To experience kale ’s edible pods and viable seeds , you must grow kale for two time of year :
Start seeds or transplantation in spring or summertime . Grow for leaves all season .
Overwinter establish kale plants under mulch or security .
In leap year 2 , industrial plant will absquatulate , flower , and produce pods and cum .
Provide support for tall flower stalk as needed .
With a little solitaire letting your clams grow through its full life cps , you ’ll discover its edible seed pod and can reap your own seeds for succeeding kale crops !
How To Save Kale Seeds. And Why You Should Do it.
FAQ
Is it dependable to eat kale seeds ?
Are seed pod comestible ?
Are kale prime buds comestible ?
Can you eat kale seed ?
Well , for starters , your kale industrial plant will call for to have overwinter . Then the jaundiced bloom will come , take after by the pods . While they are greenish , you could eat them . Once they become too tough , go away them for seeded player . Would you recognize this as food if you did n’t know what it was ? Timing is everything .
Which is the best way to run through Kale ?
Kale is a eminent - vulcanized fiber cruciferous vegetable like Brassica oleracea italica , Brussels sprouts , Brassica oleracea botrytis and cabbage . These veg can induce gas and bloat or general digestive uncomfortableness , specially in individual who are just begin to eat on high - fibre cruciferous veggie . preparation kale , rather than eating it raw , and using recipe that call for lemon yellow may foreshorten digestive side effects . Also effective in decoct gas and bloating is eating one - one-half teaspoon of fennel seeds(toasted , raw , or candy ) after a meal when you get gas or bloating . Drinking water after consuming a high roughage repast is recommend to help fiber pass through the digestive piece of land . Tuscan kale ( also hump as lacinato or dinosaur dough ) is easier to contain into the diet , tastes better than other types of wampum , and can be eaten rude or cooked . Kale is a nutritious high - vulcanized fiber obscure gullible vegetable that will upgrade any dieting .
Do Kale seedcase fall off ?
In our no - dig garden , we allow the kale plant become slightly unsightly . While the lemon balm , mint and yarrow were growing up around them , the life sentence of kail was quickly hail to an close . fortunately , due to a drier summer , the kale pods had raft of time to mature and dry on the industrial plant . The pod are ironical , but not falling off on their own .
Why does a Kale plant deplete its seeds ?
It ’s entirely potential that the flora wants to produce as many cum as it can instead . A ocean of mint and kale pods , a little disobedient and uncivilized ( pic taken two month after the previous one ) . So , when you see those first blossom and kale floweret , nobble them up and wipe out them . The plant is not reaching the close of its life . It ’s starting one afresh .