SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM ܂ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 ܂ 3B How to harvest kale leaves, buds Gardening Carol Savonen Guest columnist Question: I have several giant “old growth” kale plants in my garden from last year. They have thick woody trunks, but are putting out leaves and the begin- ning of flower buds like mad. If I leave these, will they bloom and die? Should I plant new kale plants and tear these out? Any advice is appreciated. Answer: Lucky you! Last year’s kale is a good thing, in my world. I have a half dozen of these behemoths out in my raised beds as well. Some of them are al- most three feet tall with stems that are 2 inches thick. Last summer and fall-planted kale plants start growing again when win- ter’s temperatures warm and the days lengthen. I’ve been harvesting the new leaves for the past six weeks and putting them in salads and stir frying them. Even better than the leaves are the kale flower buds, called kale “raab.” The stems below the flowering buds thicken and become much like broccoli raab. Kale raab is just as delicious and in my opinion, more tasty and tender than its broccoli cousin. Raab is just the old Eu- ropean term for any flower bud in the cabbage family. Go out with your harvest basket (and bring your reading glasses if you are of a certain vintage) and look closely at your kale plant. You’ll see green buds form- ing. Pinch or cut the buds off an inch or two down the stem. Don’t hesitate to in- clude a few leaves. I can usually harvest kale raab like this for a month or more each spring. But ultimately, the size of the new buds diminishes each time the flowers regrow. Eventually, they are not In the spring, green flower buds grow on last year’s kale plants. Pick and enjoy them in salads or stir-fry dishes. CAROL SAVONEN/SPECIAL TO THE STATESMAN JOURNAL worth harvesting. If you want new kale plants from the old, let your kale flower and set seed. Lovely yellow blossoms attract bees like crazy. At this stage, the flowers are love- ly in salads. After flowering and pollination, elon- gated seed pods form. These shatter to plant themselves if you let them. If you watch your plant carefully, you can col- lect the seed before it all scatters on its own. Then you can plant your seeds where you want them. Or save some for your next few plantings. I kind of have a feral garden, so I let a kale plant or two set seed each growing season. I end up with too many new kale plants, which is not a problem. I get rid Elk killed illegally, antlers taken near Silver Falls Zach Urness Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Police are asking for help in identify- ing the person responsible for illegally shooting a large elk, taking its antlers and leaving it to waste near Silver Falls State Park. On April 2, troopers from the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division received a call of a dead elk off of Silver Ridge Road west of Oregon’s largest state park. Troopers located what they de- scribed as a large branch antler bull elk and determined that it had “been shot and killed with a high power rifle,” offi- cials said in a news release. The antlers were taken and the en- tire carcass was left to waste, officials said. “The antlers were broken off at the bases and will appear similar to a natu- rally shed antler,” OSP said. “Troopers were able to recover a bullet from the elk carcass and are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect.” Police said the bull was likely shot over Easter weekend, between March 30 to April 1. The elk hunting season ranges from October to December, depending on lo- cation and species. Any information can be forwarded to Senior Trooper Chris Boeholt in the Sa- lem office of OSP Fish and Wildlife Di- vision via the TIP line: 1-800-452-7888. A Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) reward is available for information leading to a conviction. of them by harvesting the young plants for early summer salads. I don’t think I’ve purchased kale seed for the past 20 years. Come to think of it, the plants I fed upon last week are the 20th genera- tion descendants of seed I bought in 1998. Once it has gone to seed, the kale plant will die, as that’s what annual plants do. To extricate a big dying kale plant out of the ground is sometimes difficult, even with a garden fork. I’ve re- sorted to cutting kale plants down with a pruning saw. My dogs love kale “trunks,” and chew on them and fetch them like bones. I’ve even caught them trying to bring a giant kale stem into the house. ORCA Continued from Page 2B Addressing mental health problems can often enhance academic achieve- ment, and there are options at school if your child needs certain accommoda- tions. A HHS study noted that when children facing serious mental health disorders accessed services, their school attendance and grades im- proved. It’s often difficult for your child to ask for help when they’re hurting, so parents need to be good listeners. Reas- sure your child that dealing with fear, sadness and other emotions can be ex- tremely difficult, and speaking to a doc- tor, counselor, or therapist can be very helpful. Explain that having a mental health issue is common and they can get bet- ter. 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Lower heat to simmer, put on your pan lid and let them naturally steam for a minute or more. Turn the heat off. Then press a clove or two of garlic and the juice of half of a lemon into the greens. Stir and serve. Possible additions: a handful of raisins and toasted chopped walnuts. Delizio- so! AT SILVERTON REALTY Marcia arcia Branstetter Branstett Micha icha Christman Christma Becky Craig Karen Gehrt Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 318 Offi ce Manager 503-873-1425 Broker 873-3545 ext. 313 Broker 873.3545 ext 312 Meredith Wertz Chuck White Christina istina Williamson Williams Mason ason Branstetter Branstette Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 324 Broker 873-3545 ext. 325 Broker 873-3545 ext. 315 Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 303 SILVERTON NEW-KEIZER SILVERTON SALEM MOLALLA SILVERTON #A2458 GREAT CHARACTER 3 BR, 2.5 BA 1838 SQFT. CALL BECKY AT EXT. 313 OR MARCIA AT EXT. 318 $284,500 (WVMLS#729975) #A2467 BEAUTIFUL 1950’S HOME 3 BR, 2 BA 2986 SQFT. 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