Balancing Corporate & Homesteading Lifestyles
Homestead Harvest: Growing Kale & Mint
Vegetable Spotlight: Kale
- Difficulty to Grow: Easy
- Varieties: Curly, Lacinato, Red Russian
- Varietal Differences: Curly has tight ruffles, Lacinato has darker, smoother leaves, and Red Russian has red-tinted leaves.
- Seed Starting: Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.
- Planting & Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.5-6.8.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Container Suitability: Excellent; use deep pots.
- Companion Plants: Dill, Cucumber, Beets
- Pests/Diseases: Cabbage worms; use neem oil or handpick.
- Harvest: Pick outer leaves first; harvest can continue even after frost.
- Fun Fact: Kale can grow new leaves after snow!
- Culinary Uses: Salads, smoothies, chips.
Herb Spotlight: Mint
- Difficulty to Grow: Easy
- Varieties: Peppermint, Spearmint, Chocolate Mint
- Varietal Differences: Peppermint is more pungent; Chocolate Mint has a subtle chocolate flavor.
- Seed Starting & Propagation: Cuttings root easily in water.
- Planting & Soil: Prefers moist, well-draining soil.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Container Suitability: Ideal; controls spreading.
- Companion Plants: Tomatoes, peas, cabbage.
- Harvest: Pick leaves as needed.
- Fun Fact: Mint repels mosquitoes.
- Medicinal Properties: Aids digestion, freshens breath.
- Storage: Dry or freeze leaves.
