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Brassica napus
Taiga is a cross between two outstanding napus kale varieties. We have combine the vigorous habit and delicious tender leaves of True Siberian Kale with the rugged zone 4 hardiness and beautiful purple stems of a particular strain of Red Russian Kale. Both napus varieties are known for their hardiness and reliable overwintering properties. Overwintering kale plants provide you with many harvesting opportunities: all throughout the spring, summer and fall and also after its winter dormancy! Young leaves and florets will burst forth in early spring when other garden vegetables are still scarce. Tested for cold hardiness in our zone 5.
Growing Instructions:
Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost and transplant out 2-4 weeks before last frost. Alternatively, direct sow 4 weeks before last frost.
Space plants 10" apart.
Space rows 18" apart.
For optimal overwintering start 3 months before first frost in fall (early July in our zone 5). Spring sown plants will certainly overwinter but younger plants have a greater chance of making through a more severe winter with better resilience. Will readily overwinter without protection in zone 5. In colder growing zones you may want to get creative with some protective layers (think hay bales or remay). Shoots will sprout from overwintered stems. If stems die back, shoots will spring forth from the overwintered root.
Kale does better than other brassicas with less than adequate soil but it is best to treat it well. Add compost at time of planting. We also recommend a fall cover crop of peas or another annual legume to fix nitrogen for the upcoming spring planting.
Mulch with leaves, or whatever you have available, to hold moisture and suppress weeds. Make sure soil pH is between 5.8 and 7.0. If plants need a growing boost, water with nitrogen tea or compost tea a few times. If trace minerals are inadequate, sprinkle a small amount of woodash or azomite in each planting hole.
