Russian kale grow and care – leaf plant variety of Kale, Russian kale annual to biennial plant also used as ornamental plant, can grow in temperate, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 2-10 (in 10b plant in autumn to winter).
Leaves color can be: green, green red or purple. In several subspecies the stems red, leaves can be with curled edges, the shape of the leaf oblong and serrated, in hot summer the leaves become bitter.
Flower color yellow, the small flowers grow on inflorescence.
Rich soil that’s been well fertilized, Ventilated soil, Slight acid soil, Clean Larvae from the leaves
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seedling / Seed
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No
Difficulties or problems when growing: Sensitive to hot temperature, white butterfly can eat a lot of leaves and cause irreversible damage
Planting season: Spring / Autumn / Winter
Pests and diseases: Pieris (butterfly), prodenia (Spodoptera)
Pruning season: When it’s start to bloom unless you want the seeds
How to prune:
Prune the beginning of the inflorescence
Size of the plant? 30-80 cm, 12-32 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Fast growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring / Summer
General information about the flower Small yellow flowers grow on inflorescence
Thinning the bloom: Unless you want to save the seeds recommend thinning
Pollination is done by: Bee and butterfly
Grow from seeds
Sowing requirement: Planting when it’s started to be cold
Saving seeds until sowing: Dry, Cold temperature
Sowing season: Spring / Autumn / Winter
Planting spacing: 30-50 cm
Depth of Sowing: 0.5-1.5 cm
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist drained soil
Watering requires for Seeds: Big amount of water
Germination time: 7-20 days
Condition of seedling: Fertilized ground, light shade, regular watering, and cold temperature
Do the seeds require burying? No
Edible leaves
Leaves harvesting season: Autumn –winter in warm climate because the leaves can be bitter, most of the year in cold climate
How to harvest the leaves? Trim in the base of the leaf
Information about leaves: Leaves oblong and serrated, the leaf color: green, green red or purple. In several subspecies the stems red, leaves can be with curled edges.
Uses of Russian Kale leaves: Eaten raw, Salad, Used for cooking
