Smooth German Kale
Item Details
Donated to Seed Savers Exchange by Irene Kemper of Nebraska. Originally brought to the United States by her great grandparents when they emigrated from Germany. Smooth green leaves grow to 3-4' wide. Raw leaves are slightly bitter with a tangy mustard flavor. Cooked leaves are sweet, juicy, and tender. Early to bolt. Annual life cycle is very unusual for a kale, but advantageous for home-seed saving.
- Organic
This variety works for:
- Fresh eating
- Steaming
- Stir-fries
- Baking
- Soups
- Freezing
Kale can be prepared just like spinach and steamed, blanched, or braised. It is exceptionally good with garlic and can be added to thick and creamy potato, bean, or sausage soups.
Try adding cooked kale to roasted sweet potato dishes or tossing with pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and pancetta in a citrus-vinegar dressing.
When adding raw kale to a salad, wash and gently massage the leaves to break down the texture before tossing.
Growing Instructions
Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Plant out just before the last frost. Kale is most tender and delicious after a frost. Harvest can continue even after snow.
- Start Indoors: 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Germination: 3-10 Days
- Plant Outdoors: 24” Apart
- Light: Full Sun
Ratings & Reviews
6 reviews
Buy this Kale!
by Allison
Good performer, easy to clean, tasted amazing in salads. I will be growing as a main stay of my veggie garden. I suggest stir frying the florets or if they are young eating fresh.
Tastiest kale!
by Irina
One of my favorite kales, delicious taste and strong productive plants. Rarely available, I order from SSE again this year. Bugs love it like all kales, so make sure to grow from beginning under row covers.
Seeds the first year!
by Jennifer
Was surprised and pleased to have it bolt in its first year (had to go back and check the description to see that's normal). I only planted five plants, and two of them bolted in October (zone 4-5), and since it's cold enough here to not get things through to a second season for seeds, this is great! No more seed buying. :)
Bolts too early
by Marjorie
Tastes great, but bolted in May, before it even got hot out.
Puts out a lot of seed
by Old dummy
Great variety for growing quick micro green seed.
Not your supermarket kale
by Dave
A delicious and tender variety. Noticeably less fiber out than other kale varieties. Great fresh in salads. This does bolt in hot temps- flowers are spicy and also a great addition to salads.