{"product_id":"chou-kale-red-russian-ecologique","title":"Red Russian Kale","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBrassica napus var. pabularia.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA botanical curiosity of the vegetable garden: despite its name and its resemblance to other kales, Red Russian doesn't belong to the same species as the other curly kales. It's a \u003cem\u003eBrassica napus\u003c\/em\u003e — the species of canola, mustard and rutabaga — entirely distinct from \u003cem\u003eBrassica oleracea\u003c\/em\u003e and from all the other European cabbages (head cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi). Major practical consequence: it does NOT cross with the other cabbages, which makes it a particularly easy variety for seed saving without complicated isolation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginating from the Russian and Siberian steppes, where it had been cultivated for centuries in particularly harsh climatic conditions, Red Russian was introduced to North America around the 1880s by Russian immigrants and traders landing on the west coast, and has since found a fervent audience among nordic gardeners hunting for truly hardy varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn open-rosette plant 60 to 75 cm tall, with flat oak-leaf-shaped leaves (very different from the curly, frilly leaves of European kales), blue-green to grey-green on the surface, with deep red-purple veins and petioles that are extremely decorative. The whole plant takes on a redder hue in fall cold, as if the plant were catching fire in miniature as the days shorten — a striking visual phenomenon in the October garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticularly mild and tender flavour, much less bitter and fibrous than European kales, with an almost sweet note — it's probably the kale that will most please people who usually don't like kale. Texture fine enough to be eaten raw in salad (briefly massaged by hand with oil and lemon to tenderize), excellent as oven \u003cem\u003ekale chips\u003c\/em\u003e, in a morning green \u003cem\u003esmoothie\u003c\/em\u003e, sautéed in the pan with garlic and olive oil, or added at the end of cooking in a risotto. The young leaves make a particularly colourful and delicate mesclun, and the more mature stems are tender enough to be chopped and eaten with the leaves without having to be stripped (unlike European kales whose ribs are often too tough).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrower's tip:\u003c\/strong\u003e Even more cold-hardy than Dwarf Curled Scotch — it survives -15 °C frosts and more, and overwinters without problem under good snow cover in Québec. The first fall frosts considerably soften the flavour (conversion of starches to sugars to resist the cold), to the point that an October Red Russian almost resembles a tender lettuce. Indoor start 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting (mid-March), or direct-sow late May to late June for summer, fall and winter harvest. Harvest by taking outer leaves as needed — the plant keeps growing from the centre all season. More drought-tolerant than European kales (legacy of its Russian-steppe ancestors), which makes it an excellent choice for less-watered gardens. Susceptible to the cabbage worm like all cabbages: insect netting useful from transplanting on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen-pollinated. Biennial. Insect-pollinated; crosses with other \u003cem\u003eBrassica napus\u003c\/em\u003e (canola, rutabaga, Siberian kale), but NOT with \u003cem\u003eBrassica oleracea\u003c\/em\u003e (European cabbages). Isolate only from other \u003cem\u003enapus\u003c\/em\u003e for seed saving.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: 60 to 75 cm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaturity: 50 to 60 days for young leaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExposure: full sun, part shade accepted in summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRich, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Space plants 40 to 50 cm apart. More drought-tolerant than other kales.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndoor start mid-March for summer harvest, or direct-sow late May to late June for fall and winter harvest. Very hardy — survives frosts to -15 °C and more, overwinters under good snow cover.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Joual Vert","offers":[{"title":"200","offer_id":42416138813612,"sku":"GC-O-KALRER-200","price":0.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000","offer_id":42416138846380,"sku":"GC-O-KALRER-1K","price":3.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5000","offer_id":42416138879148,"sku":"GC-O-KALRER-5K","price":12.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25000","offer_id":42416138911916,"sku":"GC-O-KALRER-25K","price":39.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0532\/1388\/8684\/products\/rrk_79ed449a-6937-4af3-a571-eb73ac6de9df.jpg?v=1698701370","url":"https:\/\/joualvert.ca\/en\/products\/red-russian-kale-seeds","provider":"Joual Vert","version":"1.0","type":"link"}