General Culture: Click for monthly care information.
Easily grown in organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained loams in full sun. ‘Redbor’ is a cool weather ornamental kale that is best grown in the cool temperatures of fall. It needs cool temperatures to produce the deep red leaf color characteristic of the plant. It may also be grown in early spring. If grown in summer, however, plants will need some afternoon shade, perhaps to survive, but the foliage will still fail to produce good leaf color. Plants generally grow poorly when daytime temperatures begin to consistently exceed 80F. ‘Redbor’ may be grown from seed or plants may be purchased from nurseries. Seeds should be planted in mid-August in pots in part shade. Plants set in the ground in late summer will provide excellent deep red foliage well into fall including through several frosts. Depending on temperatures, plants may survive to Thanksgiving or into December in some years. Promptly remove any flower stems that may appear. May also be grown in containers.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Kale is a cool weather vegetable that is often grown for harvest of its edible leaves. Although very similar to cabbage, kale is distinguished by having loose upright wavy-edged leaves that do not form a head. Cabbage forms heads. Ornamental kale also has edible leaves, but is primarily grown as an ornamental foliage plant. ‘Redbor’ is a cultivar that is noted for its upright red leaves with curled and frilled edges that add intense color and interest to gardens. It is a biennial that is grown in St. Louis as an annual. Flowers are insignificant and should be removed immediately if they appear. Plants will grow to 3’ tall. Plants need the cool weather of spring or fall to develop their best foliage color. As night temperatures drop during the fall, the leaf color of ‘Redbor’ darkens and intensifies. Kale belongs to the Brassica family which includes other cool season vegetables such as cabbage, collards, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and kohlrabi.
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, caterpillars and aphids. Root maggots may be a problem in some areas. Leaf spots.
Uses:
Border fronts, edging, window boxes, containers. Leaves may be harvested as a vegetable. Mix with chrysanthemums, grasses and asters.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2009
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