How to Grow Red Russian Kale
Brassica napus
Red Russian Kale is a hardy brassica valued for its exceptional cold tolerance and robust flavor. Gardeners prize this easy-to-grow heirloom for providing fresh greens throughout late autumn and winter when other crops have failed.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Red Russian Kale: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Red Russian Kale is not usually started indoors.
This plant is best started directly in the garden rather than indoors, allowing seedlings to establish roots immediately in cool soil.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 to ensure healthy root development. Sow seeds directly outdoors two to six weeks before your last spring frost date, as this cool-season crop thrives in cooler temperatures. Press seeds lightly into the soil at a depth of about one-quarter inch. Germination typically occurs within five to ten days once conditions are right.
Space plants twelve to eighteen inches apart to allow proper airflow and leaf expansion. While this variety does not require trellising, keep the soil consistently moist by watering deeply as needed. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, and feed regularly with balanced fertilizer if growth slows or leaves appear pale.
Watch for cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles; use row covers or insecticidal soap for control. Prevent clubroot, black rot, and downy mildew by practicing crop rotation and ensuring good drainage. Harvest outer leaves fifty to sixty-five days after sowing when heads are firm enough to eat.
When to Plant Red Russian Kale
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | April – May | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | April – May | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | January | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | January | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | January | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Red Russian Kale
✓ Good companions
Different root depths reduce competition, carrots help break up soil
Attracts beneficial insects and may improve kale flavor and growth
Attracts beneficial wasps that parasitize cabbage worms and aphids
Natural pesticide properties repel cabbage loopers and aphids
Provides ground cover and efficient space usage, similar growing conditions
Deters flea beetles and cabbage worms, reduces nematode populations
Acts as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, repels cabbage moths
Repels cabbage root flies, aphids, and flea beetles with strong sulfur compounds
✗ Keep away from
Can shade kale excessively and compete for nitrogen
Compete for nutrients and may stunt brassica growth
May inhibit kale growth and both attract similar pests like hornworms
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
