Red Russian Kale (Brassica napus ‘Red Russian’)

Red Russian Kale (Brassica napus ‘Red Russian’) is a popular heirloom leafy vegetable prized for its tender, oak-shaped blue-green leaves, striking purple stems, and exceptionally mild, sweet flavour. Unlike many traditional kale varieties, Red Russian develops delicate, frilly foliage that becomes even sweeter after exposure to cool temperatures and light frosts, making it an outstanding choice for spring and fall harvests.

This vigorous variety grows quickly and produces abundant harvests of nutritious leaves rich in vitamins A, C, and K, along with calcium, iron, and antioxidants. The young leaves are tender enough for fresh salads, while mature foliage is excellent for stir-fries, soups, smoothies, sautés, roasting, and kale chips. Gardeners can harvest individual outer leaves as needed, allowing the plant to continue producing throughout the growing season.

Red Russian Kale is exceptionally cold hardy and often continues growing well into late autumn, with cool weather enhancing both flavour and leaf quality. Its attractive blue-green foliage and colourful purple stems also make it an excellent addition to edible landscapes, raised beds, and decorative vegetable gardens.

In Alberta, Red Russian Kale performs exceptionally well in cool weather and provides reliable harvests from spring through late fall with minimal maintenance.