It can be hard to decide which varieties to grow each year, especially if you have limited space in your garden! We're here to help with our kale matchmaker, read on to find out which kale variety you should plant this year and why.
We grow and sell three varieties of kale seeds here at Saanich Organics. Like all of our seeds, these are open pollinated, organic, and grown on Vancouver Island. The three varieties are Lacinato Kale, Siberian Kale, and Red Russian Kale. All three are fantastic, both in taste and aesthetic, but they do have their differences.
Lacinato Kale
Lacinato Kale, otherwise known as Dinosaur Kale or Black Kale, is a fan favourite with chefs around the world (but especially in Italy). Best used in soups and stews. The dark green leaves make it a striking plant to look at, nearly prehistoric (hence the dinosaur in its name)! It’s a sweeter kale variety than the others, lacking some of the bitterness that can be associated with the plant, and can be described as having an earthy or nutty flavour.
Siberian Kale
Siberian Kale has more tender leaves that make it perfect for a crisp summer salad or smoothies! It has a sweet flavour, made only sweeter by frost - so keep growing this year round. The delicate, highly curled leaves make for a beautiful plant. This is most similar to the kale variety that you would find at the grocery store!
Red Russian Kale
Red Russian Kale is the most tender of the three varieties we offer, with a sweet taste that’s less bitter than some other common varieties. Since the leaves remain sweet in maturity, you can eat the tender baby leaves or the fully grown ones! The toothed leaves growing off beautiful purple stems will add a pop of colour to your garden.
Any of these varieties will add a hearty, nutritious green to your garden. Consider planting all three and deciding which you like the best if you're undecided! Happy growing!