Sutherland

Unique flat-leaved green kale from Sutherland, in northern Scotland. Many growth tips with small- to medium-sized, tender, sweet leaves on 3′ tall plants. Very hardy and tolerates the worst maritime winter weather, from freezing sleet and cold, to 70 mph winds. Makes the sweetest kale raab in the spring through the hunger gap, even sweeter than collard raab, and with many growth tips, you get a whole lot of raab. Has an almost prehistoric growth habit that seems like it would be right at home growing wild in the hills of Scotland. A true heirloom variety that was nearly extinct until it was gifted to Real Seeds in Wales, who got it from Elizabeth Woolcombe, who got it from Angus Simmonds, who researched kale in the 1950s for Edinburgh University.