Red Russian Kale

Pests & beneficial insects

🐛 Prone to: Caterpillars

Caterpillars

Lepidoptera larvae

Holes, droppings, and a pest you can simply pick off by hand.

, Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

, Whitefly

Whitefly

Aleyrodidae

A puff of white when you brush the leaf, and stickiness underneath.

, Flea beetles

Flea beetles

Chrysomelidae (Alticini)

Shot-holes in seedling leaves, and a beetle that jumps when you lean in.

, Cutworms

Cutworms

Noctuidae

A seedling lying beside its own stump in the morning, cut clean through at soil level.

.

Attract Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

, Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Lacewings

Lacewings

Chrysopidae

Golden-eyed adults that mostly drink; larvae that hunt like small alligators.

,

to keep them in check — plant nearby.

🌼 Beneficial companion — draws Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

that help control Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

,

on neighbouring plants.

Growing from seed

Start Red Russian Kale indoors about 6 weeks before your last frost, keeping seeds in cooler soil (around 10–18 °C). Seeds usually come up in around 7 days. Move seedlings out once the danger of frost has passed, in partial sun, spaced about 45 cm apart. Expect to harvest in roughly 60 days.

Red Russian Kale seed rarely stays viable beyond 4 years — track what's still worth sowing.

Companion Planting

• 
  Sainfoin
  

  SainfoinGreat pair

  • ❧Sainfoin attracts Parasitic wasps and Ladybugs and more, which prey on the Caterpillars and Aphids and more that attack Red Russian Kale
  • ❧Sainfoin fixes nitrogen in the soil that Red Russian Kale feeds on
  • ❧Red Russian Kale draws Bees and Butterflies and more that improve pollination for both
• 
  Chaytor's Lavender
  

  Chaytor's LavenderGreat pair

  • ❧Chaytor's Lavender attracts Parasitic wasps and Hoverflies, which prey on the Caterpillars and Aphids and more that attack Red Russian Kale
  • ❧Red Russian Kale draws Bees and Butterflies that improve pollination for both
• 
  Strawberry
  

  StrawberryGreat pair

  • ❧Strawberry attracts Ground beetles and Hoverflies and more, which prey on the Flea beetles and Cutworms and more that attack Red Russian Kale
  • ❧Red Russian Kale draws Bees and Butterflies that improve pollination for both

How to grow Red Russian Kale

1. Sow6 weeks before frost
2. Germinates7 days
3. Space45 cm apart
4. GrowPartial sun
5. Harvest~60 days

Water: Medium · Height: 75 cm · Soil: Rich, moist, slightly alkaline