Willem's Blauwe Groninger Kale Seeds | Tender Dutch Green

The story of Blauwe Groninger is rooted in European seed preservation and the rugged adaptability of the Brassica napus species.

• European Roots: Hailing from the Netherlands, this traditional Dutch kale variety has long been prized by growers for its dependable performance, long stems, and striking blue-green foliage. Willam van Leeuwen provided the seed for the U.S.
• The Brassica napus Advantage: Belonging to the Brassica napus species (which encompasses prized Scotch and Siberian types), Willem's Blauwe Groninger is inherently much more cold-hardy than standard kales, easily enduring bitter winter frosts while actually improving in sweetness as temperatures drop.

Willem's Blauwe Groninger is an absolute powerhouse of garden beauty and culinary versatility, offering stunning stature and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

• The Plant & Leaves: Reaching about 2 feet tall, these vigorous plants feature long, clean stems ideal for bunching, topped with gently lobed, broad blue-green leaves.
• The Incredibly Tender Texture: Unlike many kales that turn tough and bitter in the heat, this variety is wonderfully tender throughout midwestern summers, offering a smooth mouthfeel and rich flavor.
• Culinary Uses: Exceptionally versatile! Toss tender young leaves into fresh summer salads, lightly steam or sauté for hearty side dishes, or blanch and freeze to preserve the harvest for winter soups and stews.

Willem's Blauwe Groninger is a resilient, cold-hardy biennial grown as an annual leafy green, tailored for reliable spring, summer, and winter harvests.

"Willem's Blauwe Groninger is a revelation for kale lovers. We love it because finding a kale that stays incredibly tender right through midwestern summer heat—while still surviving sub-zero winter freezes—is almost unheard of. Its broad, gently lobed leaves and long stems make it an absolute joy to grow and harvest."

• Spring & Fall Direct Sowing: Direct sow seeds in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, or plant a late-summer crop for an abundant autumn and winter harvest. Seeds germinate quickly in cool soil.
• Spacing & Support: Space plants about 12 to 18 inches apart in rich, fertile, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter to support continuous leaf production.
• Harvesting Sweetness: Harvest outer leaves as needed throughout the season. Don't pull the plants after a hard frost—exposure to cold temperatures actually enhances the natural sugars in the leaves, making them sweeter than ever!