Planting Kale together with our Savings Group

Sukuma Wiki is a local name for Kale or collard greens, a delicacy enjoyed by many Ugandan homes. It is classified under the same plant as cabbage.

My savings group came together yesterday to prepare the garden where we shall be transplanting Kale to, this coming weekend. We ploughed deep into the soil, mixing the soil with manure to ensure good soil structure and moisture retention capabilities which are conducive for the growth of the crop.

We took time to get rid of all the weeds which compete for nutrients with the crop thus affecting proper yields.

As you can see, we tried to raise the soil and creating channels within the garden where water can move through to prevent water logging in our garden when it rains thus affecting the growth of the plants.

The seedlings we shall be transplanting are currently in the nursery bed where we had planted them last month.

We have already started cutting on the amount of water we use in watering them, a process termed as hardening so as to get the seedlings used to the sunshine.

At transplanting which we do in the morning or evening when it's not so hot, we shall dig holes 30 cm apart in rows 45 cm apart and plant the seedlings while watering them. We shall then do mulching to continue keeping away weeds and also maintain soil moisture.

After 2 to 3 months, our Kale will be ready for the first harvest which goes on for 8 to 9 months. The harvesting is done by breaking off the leaves carefully so as not to injure the stem which results in rotting of the plant.

We decided to grow Sukuma because of the quick returns it offers as compared to other crops. It's market is readily available as it's consumed by most homes here in Uganda. This helps us generate an income that foots some of our bills.

Kale is also affordable to grow, with a sachet of seeds which plants a quarter an acre going for 3000Ushs, an equivalent of $0.9. And yet it's not so labour intensive as many other crops.

Kale is a very delicious and nutritious crop which one should try if he/she hasnt. It's also profitable and can earn anyone out there an income. In Uganda it's already transforming people's lives just like it's doing in our Savings group.