Red Russian Kale Seeds

Red Russian Kale grows graceful, flat, oak-shaped blue-green leaves highlighted by purple stems and veins. Tender young leaves bring mild sweetness to salads, while mature foliage makes satisfying cooked greens that often taste sweeter after frost. This open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom adds both color and useful harvests to the cool-season garden.

History

Red Russian belongs to the Russian and Siberian group of kales, generally classified as Brassica napus rather than the Brassica oleracea group that includes many familiar curly kales. Its heritage is associated with northern gardens where cold tolerance and dependable leafy harvests mattered. Preserved through generations of seed saving, it remains prized for its purple-veined foliage, tender texture, and pleasantly sweet cool-weather flavor.

Plant Profile

• Days to Maturity: Approximately 25–30 days for baby leaves and 50–60 days for mature leaves from sowing.
• Leaf Size: Broad, flat, deeply lobed leaves, often 6–12 inches long at maturity.
• Plant Size: Commonly 18–30 inches tall with a spreading leafy habit.
• Plant Type: Open-pollinated heirloom leafy vegetable; a biennial usually grown as an annual for greens.

Flavor Profile

Young Red Russian leaves are mild, tender, and gently sweet, making them particularly useful for fresh eating. Mature leaves develop a fuller kale flavor but soften well with cooking. Cool weather and light frost can enhance sweetness; remove thicker stems from larger leaves when you want the most delicate texture.

When to Plant

Direct sow in early spring when soil can be worked, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before transplanting. Harden seedlings off gradually before setting them outside. Sow again in late summer, roughly 8–10 weeks before your first expected fall frost, for autumn harvests; allow extra time as daylight shortens. Established plants tolerate frost, but protect young transplants from severe freezes. Use local frost dates and the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to plan your season.

Growing Tips & Planting Dimensions

• Seed Depth: For tray starting, cover lightly with about ⅛ inch of fine growing medium and keep the surface consistently moist.
• Germination: Usually 5–10 days under favorable conditions, with growing-medium temperatures around 65–75°F.
• Spacing: Thin or transplant mature plants 12–18 inches apart; allow 18–24 inches between rows. Baby-leaf plantings can be spaced more closely.
• Sun: Full sun in cool weather; light afternoon shade can help in warmer conditions.
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost.
• Water: Maintain steady moisture for tender growth without leaving roots waterlogged.
• Reduce disease pressure by watering at soil level, maintaining airflow between plants, and rotating away from recent brassica plantings.
• Use insect netting or row cover where cabbage worms and flea beetles are troublesome. Check leaf undersides regularly.

🌱 Gentle Cover Germination 🌱

Into the surface, thin cover only, no light needed. Start Red Russian Kale with a light covering and consistent moisture, then provide bright light as seedlings emerge.

1. Start with the right foundation. Choose a light, well-draining growing medium. Seed-starting mix is ideal; if using soil or potting mix, sift it if needed to remove large pieces.
2. Cover lightly, just barely. Press seeds onto the moist surface and cover with no more than ⅛ inch of finely sifted growing medium. These seeds don’t need light to germinate but they don’t want to be buried either.
3. Mist, don’t drench. Use a spray bottle to keep the surface evenly moist. Watering from above can wash small seeds away before they ever get started.
4. Warmth is your friend. These seeds germinate best at 65–70°F, basically normal room temperature. A heat mat can help if your space runs cool.
5. Trap the humidity. Cover your tray with a humidity dome or a loose piece of plastic wrap. This keeps moisture and warmth stable while you wait.
6. Give them time. Keep conditions consistent, resist the urge to overwater, and trust the process, they will sprout.
7. Thin with scissors, not fingers. Once seedlings appear, snip extras at the soil line rather than pulling. These roots are close together and pulling one can disturb its neighbors.

Red Russian-specific note: Remove the humidity cover after emergence and give seedlings strong light. For outdoor sowing, omit a humidity cover if it would trap excessive heat. Keep the lightly covered surface moist until seedlings establish.

Growth Type & Harvest Yields

Red Russian produces an open, upright rosette of leaves rather than a tight head. Harvest outer leaves regularly while leaving the central growing point intact so the plant can continue producing. A healthy planting can provide repeated pickings through suitable weather, with yield depending on spacing, fertility, moisture, and how heavily you harvest.

Knowing When to Harvest

Pick baby leaves when they reach a useful salad size, or harvest mature outer leaves while they are still tender and before they become coarse. Leave several healthy leaves and the center on each plant to support continued growth. Harvest in the cool morning, rinse, dry, and refrigerate in a container or bag to limit wilting. After frost, let frozen leaves thaw on the plant before handling them.

Companion Plants & Mutual Benefits

• Sweet Alyssum: Low-growing flowers provide food for beneficial insects near the kale bed.
• Dill: Allow a nearby plant to flower to attract visiting beneficial insects without crowding the kale.
• Chives: Compact growth fits along bed edges, and flowers add nectar for insects.
• Lettuce: Quick baby-leaf harvests can use open space before kale plants expand.
• Calendula: Adds cool-season flower diversity and a useful nectar source around vegetable beds.

How to Enjoy

• Toss baby leaves into salads with apples, nuts, and a bright dressing.
• Massage larger leaves with olive oil and lemon after removing tough stems.
• Sauté with garlic for a simple side dish.
• Add chopped leaves to soups, stews, and beans near the end of cooking.
• Blend into pesto with herbs, nuts, and cheese or a dairy-free alternative.
• Roast dry leaves lightly for crisp kale chips, watching closely to prevent burning.

Order Today

Grow Red Russian Kale for purple-stemmed beauty and tender greens that keep the cool-season kitchen supplied. We don’t just sell you the seeds, we help you grow, from germination through your first harvest.