Days to Maturity: 65 from transplant

The brilliant blue-green color of these thick, frilly, marvelously curly leaves make them beautifully ornamental, but don't rule out their flavor. Winterbor is a superb kale for the table, tolerating frost and cold weather better than just about any variety, and delighting with big harvests every time. So whether you're putting in containers with your pansies or growing it in the cool-season vegetable garden, rely on Winterbor.

The flavor of Winterbor intensifies with frost, and if used for ornamental purposes it lasts well into winter in mild climates. As an edible, it is unsurpassed for extra mild, sweet kale tang. The dense, frilly leaves reach 3 feet high and 2 feet wide.

Ideal for spring or fall crops, Winterbor is easy and versatile?not to mention nutritious. For spring crops, start the seeds indoors 2 to 4 weeks before the last scheduled spring frost in your area, transplanting the seedlings as soon as the soil can be worked. For fall crops, start the seeds indoors in late summer or early fall, transplanting when day temperatures are below 80 degrees. For winter crops in warm areas, start seeds indoors in early fall, transplanting well before first frost.

Or seeds may be direct sown as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring, or when temperatures begin to fall in late summer or early fall. If direct sowing, plant seeds in rows about 2 feet apart, thinning the seedlings (which are delicious) to about 15 inches apart.