Description

Kale ‘Bear Necessities’ is a rare, heirloom variety with a finer leaf than other varieties. As a young plant, it looks like Kale ‘Red Russian’; as it matures the leaf gets finer and looks more like mizuna. The taste is mild, especially when cooked, and slightly mustardy. Baby leaves can be used in salads. This variety is said to be the “kale for those who don’t like kale”.

Kale varieties can cross-pollinate with some other varieties of kale, and other Brassica oleracea plants, such as broccoli, cabbage, collards, and kohlrabi. If growing for seed production, allow only one variety to go to flower at a time.
Like all brassicas, kale needs protection from cabbage butterflies and moths, and cabbage aphids.