VegetableKale
Red Ursa Kale
Siberian Kale
Red Ursa Kale is a strikingly ornamental cultivar that takes the Russian kale family in a bold visual direction. An extra-frilly version of Red Russian Kale, it pairs vibrant brighter green leaves with deep red and purple stems and petioles that make it as beautiful on the plate as in the garden. This annual vegetable grows as a cool-season crop, offering gardeners a chance to harvest tender, nutrient-dense greens while adding dramatic color contrast to their beds.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/kale-seeds-red-ursa)
Growing Conditions
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Slightly Alkaline Preferred
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Spacing
12-18 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
—
Water
Moderate
Zones
?-?
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
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Highlights
The combination of bright green, intensely ruffled foliage with striking dark red and purple stems creates an almost ornamental appearance that belies its tender, delicious greens. Red Ursa takes the familiar Red Russian Kale and amplifies everything about it, with even more leaf frilliness and more pronounced color contrast. It's a variety that stops garden visitors in their tracks while delivering genuine eating quality.
Common Uses
Red Ursa is grown for its edible leaves, which can be harvested fresh for salads, smoothies, or cooked preparations like sautéing or braising. The tender leaf texture and vibrant appearance make it equally valued for raw salad use and as a cooked green.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Late Spring
First Harvest
Early Summer
Last Harvest
Late Fall
Care Instructions
Harvesting
Harvest outer leaves once they reach full size, allowing the center of the plant to continue producing new growth. Red Ursa's frilly leaves can be harvested at any stage from tender baby leaves to full-sized mature foliage, depending on your preference. Regular harvesting encourages continued leaf production throughout the season.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Soil pH Range
6.5 – 7.5
Scientific Classification
Brassica napus L.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Duration
Annual, Biennial
Growth Habit
Forb/herb
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)CAN (I)GL (I)