Bug holes are a sign to me that pesticides haven't been used, and that's a more welcome sight than the 'perfect' produce in our grocery stores which comes from countries who still use DDT. After they eat it, they bloat and die. Large soft or discolored areas around the holes mean they have been there more than a day and not as tasty, so compost those. Question From: Webster, New York, United States . A variety of caterpillar species infest spinach plants. My […]. But the question is: Why do we do this? How many times have you been at the market, looked at a piece of organic produce, seen numerous imperfections, and then searched for something that looked a little bit more aesthetically pleasing? Ok. Let’s be very, very honest here. Ugh! Yes, as we’ve just highlighted, kale is perfectly safe for cats. I bought some Kale from the supermarket, but they were packed in a bag so I couldn't see them clearly. While you’re at it, avoid these 9 other foods you shouldn’t eat raw. Kale is often touted as a superfood, but you may wonder whether it's safe to eat it raw. Insect damage, healed cuts, small holes or scars: For the most part, insect damage does not render fruits and vegetables inedible. I’m sure it’s just fine to eat. What does a red or green porch light mean? Could be bugs, could be mechanical damage - in either case, and with holes being the only sign of anything, it should be perfectly safe to eat. My experience was that there was a big difference in the vitality of my kale before the flea beetle was eating it. If so, make sure you Like my Facebook page, follow me on Instagram and join my email list. Holes in Kale. Kale and cabbage are different varieties of the same species of plant, Brassica oleracea, along with Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, collard greens, and kohlrabi. Leafminers are tiny black flies with yellow spots that often chew holes in cole crop leaves. Kale is packed full of things that are good for you like protein, vitamin A, and vitamin K. But if you have an underactive thyroid, it might be a good idea not to eat too much of it. Leaves with a few holes in them are perfectly edible, however, and in some European restaurants are even sought after as evidence of a truly organic salad. How Much Kale Is Safe To Eat In A Week? In short, yes, rabbits can eat kale, but they need to do so very sparingly. How much is a white mocha frappuccino at Starbucks? Before you share it with your cat, you should have in mind some important thing. Is It Safe? By Christine Yu Jan 2, 2018 Getty Images You juice it. Hate to break it to you, health food lovers, but recent studies are suggesting that kale may actually be bad for you. Kale is packed full of things that are good for you like protein, vitamin A, and vitamin K. But if you have an underactive thyroid, it might be a good idea not to eat too much of it. But, what happens to your body when What happens if you eat a slimy cucumber? The question I am looking to answer is all about taste. Announcing a Freemium version! … Your new fave leaf comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours and each variety is suited to different types of dishes. Certain compounds in the vegetable can interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis and essentially … I just planted 4 starters each of kale and bok choi in my yard and almost immediately I started noticing holes from some kind of pest that's eating it. Could be bugs, could be mechanical damage - in either case, and with holes being the only sign of anything, it should be perfectly safe to eat. Kale is a hardy plant, tolerating frost, and will grow optimally in a rich, moist, well draining soil with a pH of 6.5. This thread is archived. Is it safe to leave a light bulb partially unscrewed? Jan 2, 2018 Getty Images. report . Do Morning Glories need to be deadheaded? Gulp. Is it ok If I cut and eat only the green part and toss the yellow ones? Also, if you're a kale newbie, don't go overboard. Source(s): Bugs gotta eat too. Kales is one of the green leafy vegetables anyone would want to eat. Too much kale can be hard on the digestive system. Your thyroid might not be the biggest organ in your body, but its function is just as important as any other organ. If you have an underactive thyroid, choosing to eat kale every day might harm you. The larvae of this butterfly as well as the diamondback moth and cabbage looper eat holes in the leaves of cabbage, broccoli, kale, collards and their relatives. If slugs take a little chew out of your lettuce or a weevil leaves a small hole in your pepper, cut away the damage and thoroughly inspect what is left. The pests of one are almost always pests of the other. If it all looks good, then feel free to eat the rest. The only plants in one garden are a couple tomato plants. I agree with you completely! The kale is full of holes, something that I have encountered numerous times at my local organic market. We sift through the hype around the superfood. One can have organic greens, but it does matter if they do not know how to control their pests! Then, I thought, I’m going to eat it, anyway. If the kale is moldy, smiley, or smelly then toss it out. share. Consumers get so used to perfect looking food that so much food gets wasted in the end. Sprinkling dry cornmeal or rye flour on damp leaves will kill the worms. Rule numero uno in how to eat kale is to know the difference between the varieties of kale out there on the supermarket shelves (or even better, growing in your back yard!). Learn how your comment data is processed. Required fields are marked *. And most of it looks as good as store bought. Slugs and snails – Slugs and snails also leave holes in spinach leaves. Parasitic wasps, ground beetles, soldier bugs and lacewings are all natural predators of these insects. Kale is a super food; we have all come to awareness and agreement that it is great for the human body. Kale contains many beneficial nutrients, but it’s not good idea to eat these hearty raw leafy greens on a continual basis. Besides causing unsightly holes in cabbage leaves, the worms can eventually kill the plants by chewing away their ability to photosynthesize. However, it does have some downsides that every rabbit owner Asked July 2, 2016, 11:03 AM EDT. Maybe there is also some "message" that the body gets from the silver/white dusty substance that clings to kale & collards -- you Apparently, it isn’t just kale that flea beetles like to feast on. Having read your article, I learned of ‘Flee Beetles’. Is it edible? Kale, Brassica oleracea variant acephala, is a leafy herbaceous biennial or perennial plant in the family Brassicaeae grown as a leafy green vegetable.The kale plant is a non-heading, cabbage like plant with curly or straight, loose blue-green or purple leaves. My sense is that we have this belief in the U.S. that fruit and vegetables are supposed to look “perfect”. report. I have them in two small gardens and both of the areas the Kale has holes in the leaves. Young kale seedlings are especially susceptible to beetle and caterpillar attacks. Some people like eating kale raw, while Parasitic wasps, ground beetles, soldier bugs and lacewings are all natural predators of these insects. FuzzyChef FuzzyChef. Stick to the occasional raw kale salad or superfood raw smoothie to err on the safe side and avoid unpleasant side effects such as constipation, stomach pain, and bloating. That dark green color means it’s packed full of goodness in both flavor and nutrients, and while its rough bitterness may be an acquired taste, it pays off enormously when handled right. Also, if you're a kale newbie, don't go overboard. In the back, they get more sun and there are tomato and pepper plants in that garden. save. Actually, it should be safe to eat the aphids as well, it's just unappetizing. You can also try spraying your kale with Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt. I’m glad to see others have the same notion.. . Can I eat tomatoes that animals have bitten. Kale offers a rich dose of iron, calcium, phosphorous, vitamin A, C and K. It also comes packed with antioxidants, along with copper and magnesium. 2 comments. But I am not sure that I can agree with what the folks at Pumpkin Pond Farm say. If you see only slight signs of spoilage, the cucumber is still safe to eat as long as you cut out the spoiled areas. Manganiello says you can eat kale every day, just don’t overdo it. When you do nosh on this dark leafy green, pair it with foods rich in fatty acids like oil or nuts to boost the uptake of fat-soluble vitamins, according to Manganiello. What could be causing the holes? Is It Safe To Wash And Eat Swiss Chard Leaves That Have Small Holes. Vitamins B6, B1, B2, and B3 are also packed in it. I could eat apples endlessly -- I usually consume many, but, these, again, NEVER with any peel. Here's exactly what happens to your body when kale makes its way onto your plate at least once a day. Stick to the occasional raw kale salad or superfood raw smoothie to err on the safe side and avoid unpleasant side effects such as constipation, stomach pain, and bloating. How to Eat Kale. How many times have you been at the market, looked at a piece of organic produce, seen numerous imperfections, and then searched for something that looked a little bit more aesthetically pleasing? Thanks for the article… My kale is just flourishing in the garden this year, except for the holes in it… I thought as long as I wash off any bugs (which I can’t seem to find anyway) it should be fine, right? Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. 8 comments. hide. 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