Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Red Russian'

RHS Plant Profile

Siberian kale 'Red Russian'

Other common names

borecole 'Red Russian', curly kale 'Red Russian'

Synonyms

Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Red Russian'

Annual Biennial

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A Siberian kale cultivar producing attractive, deeply cut leaves with purple veining that are softer and sweeter than traditional kale cultivars. It can be grown as a 'cut and come again' crop for the tender young leaves that are great in salads, or left to mature

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming, Columnar upright
Genus: Brassicas can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, most are upright with alternate, often glaucous leaves, long taproots and clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers. The genus includes a number of species bred to produce food crops, such as cabbages, turnips, mustards and oilseed rape, as well as others grown for their ornamental value
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Sow indoors in mid-spring and prick out to modules or individual pots, transplant out in early summer between May-July in rows 60cm apart. Keep well-watered and cover with netting to protect from birds and insects. See kale cultivation

Propagation

Grow in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Sow indoors in mid-Spring and prick out to modules or individual pots, transplant out in early Summer between May-July in rows 60cm apart. Keep well watered and cover with netting to protect from birds and insects. See vegetable cultivation

Pruning

No pruning required. Remove yellowing leaves

Pests

May be susceptible to birds, cabbage caterpillars, cabbage whitefly, cabbage gall weevil, slugs and snails, flea beetle, mealy cabbage aphid, swede midge

Diseases

May be susceptible to black rot, club root, brassica downy mildew, foot and root rot, leaf spot, white blister