Siberia conjures up images of cold and isolation. It's not a positive image. People go to Siberia, but they don't come back. Think Gulag.
This year, I've been growing a variety of heirloom Kale called Siberian Dwarf. I have this planted in containers and growing in my greenhouse.
When writing this post, I hoped to find detailed information about this particularly variety, that I coud share with you. But when I searched, I turned up a blank. Yes, I learned that kale originated in Asia Minor (Turkey), but I couldn't find anything specific about the intriguingly named Siberian kale.
The Wikipedia mentions that the Romans ate kale and called it "Sabellian", so it seemed plausible that "Siberian" is just a derivative of the old Roman word.
To check this, I sent an e-mail to Red Russian Kale, a seed company in the United Kingdom, that specializes in in kale. Chris Molyneux of Red Russian Kale was kind enough to reply. According to Chris, the variety was brought to the U.S. Pacific Northwest by Russian immigrants --perhaps from Siberia, perhaps not.
Origins aside, Siberian kale is true to its name -- it grows very well even in the coldest climates. I've been harvesting it from my greenhouse all winter. The plants are a bit leggy right now, but that's to be expected given how little sun light there is at this time of year.
As you know from previous posts, I really like kale; it's delicious, easy to grow, resists pests like aphids and is very nutritious. It was also a favorite of Thomas Jefferson, who enthusiastically grew kale in his garden at Monticello. Jefferson liked kale for all the reasons mentioned above.
Well, anything good enough for comrade Jefferson, is good enough for me. Kale from Russia with love.
Comments