From this title, “Traffic Stopping Kale,” you may be imagining a major traffic incident in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara where a truck loaded with kale turned over on the interstate. Then tons of drivers hit their brakes and start grazing right off of the roadway. No, that is not what I am implying at all.
Although the idea of a kale wreck causing tons of health food loving and fad craving masses to mob the scene may be slightly humorous (no one was hurt during this visual introduction), that is not what I meant at all.
I am talking about kale literally stopping traffic, be it by automobile, foot, or bike. The particular kale that will cause disruption in others’ daily routines is the Redbor kale. In case you have not seen it, Redbor kale (Brassica oleracea ‘Redbor’) is a 3-4 foot tale kale with deep purple, crinkly-edged leaves. This plant is such a striking presence in the garden that as it matures, it takes on the size of a small shrub. Not only is it beautiful and striking but yes, the leaves are completely edible.
Add Redbor kale along a sunny sidewalk, and watch the Lululemon-clad hordes congregate in salivating awe.
How to Grow Redbor Kale
The specifics on growing Redbor kale are: it can be grown from seed or plugs, planted in late spring in a sunny, well-drained garden bed, it is ready to harvest from plugs in about 55 days, from seed, it would be ready to harvest in 75 days.
Redbor kale leaves can be harvested and eaten while they are young, so a few plants in your garden will provide a summer full of purplish, healthy kale smoothies.
In case you do not get around to harvesting all of the leaves, the older leaves will soften if left until a light autumn frost. Some of the plant sources cite that plants will come back if covered and mulched over the winter. We are going to test this notion at our USDA Zone 6a gardens at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens this winter.
The leaves and stems are beautiful and sturdy, so they are also of great use in floral arrangements. If you are having a dinner party, make a Redbor kale centerpiece so if your guests are still hungry, they can nibble on the decoration.
Add Brassica oleracea ‘Redbor’ to your list of must-grow plants. I know you will love the appearance, you will have passers-by stopping to ask about the plant, and if you have kids, Redbor kale chips are the best snack food. Especially if you throw out all of the other snack food and leave kale chips lying on the kitchen table. Not that we would do that.
– Rodney
Kale Notes From Rochelle:
Last summer, my neighbor, a farmer, planted a whole field of Redbor kale. I drove by it at least a few times a day, and without fail, I couldn’t help but remark about its color or texture and how amazingly eye-catching it was.
My kids definitely eye-rolled me. And then they started pointing it out—before I could—with sarcasm, of course.
But the kale got even better later in the season. It seemed to turn into a field of deep purple velvet, and it held its shape and form all the way through the winter. It was startling in the winter landscape, and eventually, my kids actually had to admit that it was kind of amazing and beautiful to see something so beautiful and purple against the brown of a New England Winter and the dreariness of stick season. I can’t wait to grow this plant for myself.
So interesting kale! I haven’t seen such a kale. It looks more like a flower. It is so beautiful. I want to buy to plant in my garden. Thanks for sharing!