Photo: "red russian kale going to seed after a long productive life, now giving us another generation!" by deedavee easyflow
· CC BY-SA 2.0
Vegetable · Kale
Red Russian Kale
Brassicaceae
Oak-leaf shaped leaves with reddish-purple stems and veins. Fastest kale to maturity (50-60 days). Leaves are MORE FRAGILE than other kales — eat immediately or refrigerate. Color deepens in cold. Pre-1860 heirloom brought to Canada by Russian traders. Particularly susceptible to swede midge.
At a Glance
Days to Maturity
50–60 days
Sun
6+ hours
Spacing
12–18 "
Container
Yes
3+ gallon pot
Zone Planting Guide
Growing Guide
Germination
Germination Time
5–10 days
Optimal Temp
60°F
Seed Depth
0.5"
Watering
Weekly Water
1–1.5 "
Needs
Moderate-consistent
Soil
pH Range
6–7
Resilience
Heat: Medium
Cold: High
Drought: Medium
Nutrition
Feeding Intensity
Heavy feeder
Harvest
Storage
5 days — More fragile than other kales. Use quickly.
Sources
university
UMN Extension
horticultural
Harvesting History
extension
Kale in the Garden (Utah State University Extension)
extension
Growing collards and kale in home gardens (University of Minnesota Extension)
More Vegetables
Red Russian Kale Planting Dates by Zone
Planting dates for Red Russian Kale vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.
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