How to Grow Kale Scarlet Redbor
Kale Scarlet Redbor
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
vegetableScarlet Redbor is a stunning ornamental and culinary kale variety featuring deeply frilled, dark red-purple leaves that become even more vibrant after frost. This cold-hardy brassica is prized for both its striking visual appeal in gardens and its nutritious, tender leaves perfect for cooking and raw salads. It grows as a non-heading leafy green that can reach 18-24 inches tall.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 2-9; most productive in zones 3-8
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Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny plants with first true leaves emerging; very delicate and vulnerable to pests and drying out
Keep soil consistently moist, provide bright indirect light, thin to strongest seedlings, protect from cutworms with row covers or collars
Vegetative Growth
3-5 weeksRobust leaf development with 6-12 frilly leaves; plant grows in height and diameter; leaves remain tender
Maintain consistent watering, apply balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks, monitor for cabbage worms and aphids, remove any yellowing lower leaves
Leaf Expansion & Color Deepening
2-3 weeksPlant reaches full size with mature, deeply ruffled leaves; color intensifies from green-red to deep crimson-purple, especially after light frost exposure
Continue regular watering and feeding, increase nitrogen slightly if leaves appear pale, allow light frosts to enhance flavor and color intensity
Peak Harvest
4-8 weeksPlant is fully mature at 18-24 inches with maximum leaf production and vibrant coloring; leaves are tender and flavorful
Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage continued production, pinch off any flower buds to redirect energy to leaves, continue weekly watering
Extended Production
6-12 weeks (depending on climate)Plant continues producing new leaves through cool fall and even winter in mild climates; flavor improves with repeated frosts
Continue harvesting outer leaves, reduce fertilizer in late season, provide frost protection in zones below 6, harvest before hard freezes (below 15°F)
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Use row covers, hand-pick caterpillars, apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), neem oil spray, encourage parasitic wasps
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Strong water spray to dislodge, insecticidal soap, neem oil, introduce ladybugs and lacewings, reflective mulch
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Row covers, sticky traps, neem oil, diatomaceous earth, reflective mulch, spinosad spray
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Yellow sticky traps, insecticidal soap, neem oil, vacuum pests with handheld device, encourage beneficial insects
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Cutworm collars around seedlings, remove garden debris, deep watering to expose pupae, Bt strain GHA, diatomaceous earth
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Hand-pick, Bt spray, row covers, neem oil, encourage parasitic wasps and tachinid flies
Uses
Raw Salads & Chips
CulinaryScarlet Redbor's tender, frilly leaves are excellent raw in salads, adding both striking visual appeal and mild, slightly sweet flavor. The leaves can also be dehydrated or baked into crispy kale chips with minimal seasoning. [source]
Cooked Greens & Soups
CulinaryMassage the leaves with oil or cook them gently by sautéing, steaming, or adding to soups and stews. The purple-red color is retained when briefly cooked and adds visual drama to dishes. [source]
Nutritional Powerhouse
MedicinalKale Scarlet Redbor is exceptionally rich in vitamins A, C, and K, minerals like calcium and iron, and powerful antioxidants including anthocyanins (which give it its red color). Regular consumption supports immune function, bone health, and may reduce inflammation. [source]
Ornamental Garden Display
CraftWith its deeply ruffled, jewel-toned leaves, Scarlet Redbor serves as a stunning edible ornamental in flower beds, borders, and containers, providing beauty that intensifies through the growing season and into winter. [source]
Flower Arrangements & Garnishes
HouseholdThe striking foliage makes excellent filler for fresh floral arrangements and upscale culinary garnishes for restaurants and special dishes, lasting well when kept cool and misted. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Begin harvesting outer leaves when plant is 8-10 inches tall (approximately 30-40 days after planting) by pinching or cutting from the bottom up, leaving the central growing point intact. Harvest leaves in the morning after dew dries for best texture and flavor. Regular harvesting encourages continued leaf production and keeps the plant tender. Leaves are most flavorful after light frost (ideally 28-40°F overnight) as cold converts starches to sugars. Continue harvesting through fall and into winter in cold climates; the plant becomes sweeter with repeated freezes. In very cold zones, provide frost cloth protection if temperatures drop below 15°F to extend the harvest season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Scarlet Redbor's deep purple-red coloration comes from anthocyanins, the same powerful antioxidants found in blueberries and red wine, which intensify in cold weather as the plant produces them as a natural antifreeze.
- 🌱 Kale is one of the oldest cultivated brassicas, with evidence of cultivation dating back 2,000+ years in the Mediterranean, and Scarlet Redbor represents modern breeding for both nutrition and ornamental beauty.
- 🌱 A single kale plant can continue producing tender leaves for 2+ years in mild climates, making it one of the most productive perennial-like garden vegetables, though it's typically grown as an annual or winter annual.
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