Curly Roja Kale (Organic)
Best cold-hardy choice for home gardeners seeking nutritious, ornamental greens.
Elevate your garden and meals with Curly Roja Kale, an organic, biennial heirloom variety. Its striking red-purple, curly leaves offer a vibrant visual appeal and a tender texture with a slightly sweet, earthy flavor. This cold-tolerant kale thrives in cooler weather, becoming even sweeter after a frost, making it a reliable and productive crop. Packed with essential vitamins A, C, and K, it's a nutritious addition to salads, soups, and stir-fries. Its compact growth habit makes it suitable for both garden beds and containers, adding beauty and bounty to any edible landscape.
$4.15
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
190
/ 5876
#190 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
-61%
Below average
Life Cycle
Biennial
/ Biennial
Who it's for
- Health-conscious gardeners prioritizing organic and non-GMO growing practices
- Home cooks seeking nutrient-dense greens and vibrant garden aesthetics
- Cool-climate growers wanting to extend their harvest into winter
Who should skip it
- Busy gardeners unable to monitor for common brassica pests
- Palates preferring mild greens over robust, bitter flavors
- Budget-focused growers looking for inexpensive bulk seed options
Performance breakdown
Climate Adaptability
Thrives across a massive range of USDA zones from three through ten.
Container Suitability
Compact growth habit makes it a perfect candidate for small-space gardening.
Nutrient Density
A powerhouse of vitamins A, C, and K for health-conscious growers.
Germination Reliability
Open-pollinated heirloom seeds offer consistent and predictable sprouting times.
Culinary Versatility
Tender leaves transition beautifully from raw salads to hearty cooked dishes.
Frost Tolerance
Cold weather actually enhances the flavor profile for a sweeter harvest.
Key Specs
Life Cycle
Biennial
Organic Status
Certified Organic Product
Days To Maturity
50-70 Days
Planting Depth
1/4 inch
Soil pH
6.0 - 7.5
USDA Growing Zone
3 - 10
Germination Time
5-10 Days
Height At Maturity
12-18 inches
Features
- Vibrant red-purple, curly foliage
- Flavor sweetens after frost
- Certified Organic
- Heirloom and Open-Pollinated
- Rich in vitamins A, C, and K
- Ideal for cool weather growing
- Versatile in culinary applications
- Compact growth for containers
What customers say
Customers highly favor Curly Roja Kale for its exceptional quality and visual appeal. Reviewers consistently report outstanding germination rates, ensuring a strong start for any garden. The kale's deep reddish purple color makes it a striking ornamental addition. Flavor is a major highlight; the taste is notably sweeter and less bitter than standard green varieties, especially after cold weather. Gardeners also appreciate its excellent cold hardiness, which extends the harvest season well into winter. This organic seed from High Mowing is celebrated for its vigor, beautiful appearance, and superior culinary results, leading to enthusiastic recommendations.
Know before you buy
Yes, this variety is well-suited for containers due to its compact 12-18 inch growth habit. Ensure your pot has adequate drainage and receives at least partial sun.
When temperatures drop, the kale converts its starches into sugars as a natural survival mechanism. This process results in a noticeably sweeter, less bitter flavor profile.
Curly Roja Kale thrives in cool weather and is best planted in the spring or fall. It is highly cold-tolerant and can be grown in USDA zones 3 through 10.
You can expect germination within 5 to 10 days of planting. The plants typically reach maturity and are ready for harvest in 50 to 70 days.
Yes, this variety is both heirloom and open-pollinated, meaning you can save the seeds from your harvest to replant in future seasons.
For optimal growth, plant your seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch in soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.5. The plants require moderate watering and perform best in full to partial sun.
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