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10 Different Types of Kale With Pictures 

 March 31, 2022

By  admin

Kale is a leafy green vegetable that is just as good for your health and your taste buds. From curly kale to Tuscan kale, here are some of the most popular varieties you can find in grocery stores today.

Kale is a vegetable that has been around for years. It is a green leafy vegetable that is often used in salads and other dishes. There are 10 different types of kale with pictures. Read more in detail here: types of kale chart.

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Kale is one of the healthiest and most sought-after cruciferous veggies. It’s a delightful, crisp, and always healthful green vegetable that you shouldn’t leave out of your diet or garden.

However, if you want to learn about kale, you must first understand the many varieties of kale accessible. There are a lot of them, believe it or not, and they all look and taste different.

We’d like to show you all of these kale kinds and give you an idea of what to anticipate in terms of taste, growing requirements, and general health benefits.

All of that, and more, can be found below, so keep scrolling!

What exactly is Kale?

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Kale is a go-to edible plant we’ve been consuming for generations. It’s a loose-leafed vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family and is one of the earliest cruciferous vegetables we began cultivating.

Kale was a key component of people’s diets 2000 years ago, according to a lot of evidence. And it’s all because kale is simple to cultivate and has an abundance of health advantages that can’t be overlooked.

Kale has an advantage over other plants (including cruciferous veggies) in that it may be eaten virtually directly from the ground. It is ready to reach your stomach as soon as it is harvested, with no side effects or disadvantages.

Aside from that, kale can be found at practically every grocery. Kale will be there to help you fulfill the necessary amounts of greens in your diet no matter where you travel.

Why Should You Plant Kale in Your Garden?

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So, why should you cultivate kale instead of other plants? Kale is one of the toughest cruciferous veggies you can cultivate, so it’s simple. However, there are other more benefits to consider, including the following:

It Can Grow at Any Temperature

Kale is so hardy that it can thrive in temperatures as low as 20 degrees F. (15 degrees Celsius). Kale is likely to withstand a strong frost in the winter and provide you with a delicious flavor after the storm has gone.

Requires Minimal Maintenance

There’s nothing to be concerned about if the temps are normal but you don’t have fertilizer. Kale may also flourish without a lot of fertilizer. Of course, you’ll need a rich, deep soil to cultivate it, but apart from that, it can thrive in virtually any location without fertilizer.

There isn’t much watering.

It develops in low-humidity environments while requiring minimal fertilizer. To have nutritious kale later on, you just need to water it once or twice a week.

Pesticide-Resistant

Do not believe that kale is pest-resistant. Aphids, a tiny insect that steals the plant’s nutrition, are one of its main foes. However, since it is still uncommon, the kale will not succumb to the aphids very soon.

Constantly expands

After harvesting the kale, you won’t need to reseed it. The plant will begin to grow anew after you cut it from the root. With correct harvesting and care, you may acquire a lot of kale leaves in a year.

So, how astonished are you by how good kale is? Then you’ll appreciate its health advantages as well.

Kale’s Health Benefits

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It seems to be a common vegetable, but it isn’t. Kale, being a cruciferous vegetable, provides a broad range of health advantages due to its high vitamin and mineral content.

Here are some of the reasons why kale is such a popular health food:

Cardiovascular Health is Improved

Kale’s high potassium, vitamin K, and calcium content may help to strengthen arteries and decrease blood pressure. It may even assist to avoid heart disease in certain circumstances.

Bone health is improved.

With regular intake of kale, you might anticipate a minor increase in bone and tooth health due to the calcium, vitamin A, and phosphorous content.

Reduces Cholesterol

Nothing beats kale for decreasing cholesterol and other forms of fat in your body. The bile acid sequestrants in this vegetable’s composition help to prevent undesirable fats from being absorbed into your body.

Improves the quality of one’s vision

Kale has a lot of vitamin A and beta carotene, so you should anticipate a modest improvement in your vision. It helps to prevent cataracts, blurred vision, and long-term eye damage.

Immune System Booster

Kale is also beneficial to people who wish to maintain a healthy immune system. Its vitamin A, C, and K concentration will help to maintain the immune system in check, as well as the appropriate functioning of all physiological systems that protect us.

Reduces the risk of cancer

And, if that wasn’t enough, kale’s long-term health advantages come from its natural chemicals, which may help prevent cancer. In the long run, inactivating certain carcinogenic chemicals in the body might cause cancer cells to die.

10 Kale Varieties with Photographs

Let’s have a better concept of the numerous varieties of kale accessible now that you’re aware of the advantages of kale as a plant to cultivate and consume.

Whether you want to start eating or growing kale, this quick introduction to each kind will help you choose the right one. Take a peek at the images below!

1. Curly Kale (Standard)

If you’ve ever had kale, it was most likely the conventional or curly form. It has a kale-like look with curly leaves, as the name suggests.

It has a somewhat pale and occasionally deep-green look, in contrast to other varieties. The curled leaves grow big enough to feed a whole day’s worth of meals with only one pack of leaves. It may be grown practically anyplace with minimal effort.

It is best to consume it fresh to ensure proper preparation. It may also be used with salt or lemon juice for a milder flavor.

Curly kale is also one of the healthiest, with more antioxidants and vitamin C than oranges, as well as potassium and vitamin B6.

2. Kale Lacinato

Lacinato is the second most common kale variety after curly kale. It’s the Tuscan or Dinosaur kale that you’ll most often find at the grocery.

When compared to its curly relative, Lacinato kale has a somewhat bitter flavor. This is due to its super-dark hue and nutrient-dense composition, which includes several vitamins, potassium, and zinc.

It’s important to note that Lacinato kale is a little thinner and less crispy than other types, but it may still be cooked in a variety of ways. It’s your choice how you consume it.

It’s also reasonably resistant, which is a plus. However, due of its Italian origins, it thrives in fresh surroundings rather than hot or cold ones. It requires very little work to develop it in a healthy manner.

3. Kale with a Walking Stick

When it comes to unique kale varieties, the walking-stick version is likely to stand out. The name originates from the enormous height of the stems, which may grow up to 6 feet tall in certain circumstances.

Unlike other types of kale, this one grows to the size of a small tree. It has the biggest leaves and sturdy enough stems to resist fresh conditions. This one doesn’t perform well in cold climates.

The benefit of walking-stick kale is that a single tiny tree may provide enough kale for a month or two. It also has one of the sweetest flavors, making it simple to blend with salads and other dishes.

Finally, it is quite nutritious. It has a lot of nutrients but is a little less dense than curly kale, so it feels like curly kale but is a little bigger.

4. Kale, the King

Premium kale can work wonders for you if you’re seeking for a kale that can tolerate frigid weather. It thrives in practically any environment, even near-freezing conditions, which other varieties of kale can not tolerate.

It may be identified by its medium-green hue, which is typically a little faint. The leaves may be quite big and scalloped in form.

This kale is high in vitamin A and other beneficial elements. It’s still simple to make and can be used for any salad or dinner. It has a rich flavor that isn’t as bitter as other types.

5. Kale from Siberia

This kind of kale, as the name suggests, thrives in chilly climates. Unlike other kale varieties, this one resembles cruciferous veggies in general rather than kale. That’s why it resembles broccoli so strongly.

The ruffled form of Siberian kale leaves distinguishes it. The flavor is usually moderate and complements practically any dish. It may be eaten raw on salads or cooked with other dishes if desired.

It has all of the essential nutrients found in kale, as well as a high concentration of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, making it one of the healthiest kales available.

6. Russian Red Kale

Due of its purple to crimson tint, it is also known as scarlet kale. It has the same size and shape of leaves as premier kale, but it is significantly thicker, smoother, and has a plastic-like touch.

This kale is simple to recognize since it is generally a vibrant green hue with purple or crimson staining.

It’s still versatile enough for any meal, and it’s especially good in smoothies and salads. Because of its wide and thick leaves, it works well as a filling stand-alone meal. However, since the leaves are thick and tough to chew, eating it fresh might be a challenge.

Redbor Kale, No. 7

The Redbor kale is an excellent choice for individuals who wish to receive all of the health advantages of kale while also having a beautiful plant in their yard.

When this kale reaches a certain size, it turns its green leaves purple and vivid crimson. This gives the kale a distinct look, similar to that of a flower.

This kale, despite its beauty, is nonetheless worth eating. Each leaf has a tremendous number of antioxidants, minerals, and beneficial acids. As a result, the plant has this hue. It is also, believe it or not, one of the tastiest, with a deep but sweet taste.

However, this plant, like other attractive plants, is a little tough to cultivate. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult, since it can withstand both fresh and somewhat frigid conditions.

8. Kale (Chinese)

It’s also known as Chinese broccoli or cabbage by others. However, it is a form of kale that grows in a crown shape.

Chinese kale has the virtue of being able to grow practically anyplace. Because this kale was developed in Asia, it can grow in both hot and cold climates.

The thick and cabbage-like appearance of Chinese kale may be used to identify it. It has a leafy form that links to other leaves at the bottom, since it is a member of the cabbage family.

It has a flavor that is comparable to broccoli, but in the form of leaves. It’s also one of the simplest to prepare, since it works with salads without the need for cooking or as a contour for meats and grains.  

9. Kale (baby)

It gets its name from the compact form it provides. This kind, in contrast to others, has a leaf that is half as big and super-thin, making it a wonderful complement to dishes and salads due to its ease of preparation. However, it is often served with olive oil as an aperitive or seasoning.

It has a flavor that is comparable to regular kale. Due to its thin and compact design, this one has a significantly milder taste.

However, it is not as resistant as other types. This one prefers a little more shade and only grows well in a clean environment (not too hot or too cold).

It is high in vitamins, calcium, and iron, among other minerals. Despite its small size, it is packed with nutrients and worth include in your diet.

10. Kale Tronchuda

The Tronchuda is perhaps the rarest of all the kales. It’s also known as Portuguese kale, because it only thrives in somewhat warm climates.

It resembles a cabbage or lettuce in appearance. Despite this, it produces huge leaves with a lot of substance inside the form. Because these leaves are still delicate and thick, they’re a great choice for smoothies and salads.

It’s a piece of cake to eat this kale since it doesn’t need any salad preparation. It’s also filling enough to serve as a garnish for meats or as a major salad meal.

It has a flavor that is comparable to cabbage. The nutrients are the same way, with a lot of carbohydrates and minerals but not too many calories.

Conclusion

So, did you learn anything new about the many forms of kale? If you answered yes, it’s time to choose which one will be the most beneficial to your growth.

All of them are recommended, but the more popular ones, such as curly and lacinato, are preferred. They’re the simplest to get seeds for, and they thrive in even the hardest conditions. This will cut down on the time it takes to grow them.

Whatever you choose, be sure it’ll work for both your garden and your diet. That should lead you to the best kale variety to cultivate.

There are 10 different types of kale with pictures. There are also a few other vegetables that have similar shapes and colors to kale, so it can be hard to distinguish between them. Reference: how many varieties of kale are there.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many different types of kale are there?

A: There are many different types of kale, and they vary in color. Some can be green or purple with speckles, while others are a dark purplish-blue variety.

What different types of kale look like?

A: There are three common types of kale. One is smooth, one has a rough surface, and the third type looks like it has curly leaves all over its stem.

What are the different types of kale plants?

A: Kale is a type of green leafy vegetable, which refers to the many different varieties. There are several types of kale that have their own names such as Lacinato kale, curly kale and cavolo nero. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked in stews, soups and salads.

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Emil Schoene


Born and raised in Austin, TX I come from a background of home renovation. By helping my family in my younger years with their construction business, I learned the ropes quickly and as I grew it became my passion that I still do today. Looking to share my knowledge with others. I invite you to leave comments on any post as I know you will have questions that you are not finding anywhere else.

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