Siberian kale is a cool-weather annual or biennial in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) and is a result of breeding field mustard and wild cabbage. The genus name is Latin for cabbage. Kale can grow 1-3 feet tall and wide and do best in full sun and any amended well-drained moist garden soil. They can be directly sown in the garden or purchased as seedlings and planted in either spring or fall. In the south, they can be grown all winter long as they tolerate frost and light freezes. Provide adequate nitrogen for best results. Get a soil test before planting and fertilize according to the results. These kales are more tender than other varieties with a milder flavor. They are also more resistant to insects and diseases and more winter hardy. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. In spring the plant will bolt and send up a flower stalk with yellow flowers that early bees are attracted to. Use this plant in the fall, winter and spring edible garden. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Diseases affecting this plant include club root, leaf spot, and black rot. Insect problems include flea beetles, aphids, whitefly, root maggots and fungus gnats. See pests of crucifers to the left.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBrassica oleracea Collards GroupBrassica rapa Chinensis GroupBrassica rapa var. rosularis
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Annual; Vegetable
Life cycle
Annual; Biennial
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Auriculate; Cuneate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Leathery; Smooth
Leaf value
Edible; Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Attractive blue/green, reddish or green foliage is flat to somewhat curled with lobed margins. Leaves vary in size but can get a foot or more long.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower shape
Cross
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Not grown for it flowers. Yellow 4-petaled flowers will appear in spring in clusters
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Siliqua
Fruit detail
The seeds develop in sickle shaped pods. The fruit dries and splits when ripe.