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Blue Curled Vates: The Compact, Uniform, Cold-Hardy Kale for Winter Production

Best Chef Recipes — Pacific Northwest Ingredient Series

Blue Curled Vates is one of the most widely grown compact curly kales in North America, originally selected for uniformity, cold tolerance, and efficient field production. This variety combines tight blue-green curls, a short stem habit, and excellent frost resilience—making it ideal for small-scale chefs’ gardens, market farms, raised beds, and high-density plantings.

In the kitchen, its leaves are slightly more tender than larger curly varieties such as Winterbor or Westland Winter, yet still maintain structure through roasting, sautéing, or braising. For growers, Blue Curled Vates offers predictable growth, excellent yields per square foot, and the ability to harvest continuously through fall and winter in the Pacific Northwest.

🌱 Flavor, Texture & Visual Character

Blue Curled Vates is defined by its compact rosette shape and fine curls. The leaves develop richer blue-green pigmentation as temperatures drop, and the flavor responds accordingly—sweetening after frost, reducing bitterness, and gaining a subtle nutty note when cooked.

Feature	Description
Texture	Fine curls; tender raw; holds structure in cooking
Sweetness	Moderate raw; increases considerably with frost
Bitterness	Low; very mild after winter exposure
Color	Blue-green, intensifying in cold weather
Aroma	Clean vegetal note with light nuttiness when sautéed

Chef Tip: Because Vates is more compact, harvest leaves regularly to maintain tenderness, especially for raw preparations.

🍽 Best Culinary Applications

Blue Curled Vates’ smaller leaf size and tender curls make it ideal for techniques that require fast cooking or delicate texture. It also excels in raw applications when harvested young, and its curls capture dressings exceptionally well.

Technique	Culinary Benefit
Winter salads	Tender curls hold vinaigrette without becoming tough
Quick sautés	Softens rapidly; retains bright flavor
Roasting	Fine curls crisp evenly at high heat
Soup finishing	Retains structure after brief simmering
Baby leaf harvest	Exceptional for raw dishes when young

Flavor Pairings: lemon and garlic, white miso, Parmesan, chili oil, bacon lardons, roasted squash, tahini, cider vinegar, maple vinaigrette, smoked paprika.

Technique Note: Because Vates leaves cook quickly, add them near the end of sautés or soups to preserve color and texture.

🌿 Growing Blue Curled Vates in the PNW

Compact growth is the hallmark of Vates. Its short internodes reduce the likelihood of wind damage and keep plants close to the ground, where they resist cold stress better than tall-stemmed kales. This trait also makes it ideal for small gardens, hoop houses, interplanting, and winter CSA production.

Soil & Climate Recommendations

Condition	Recommendation
Botanical	Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
Soil pH	6.2–6.8 for frost-enhanced sweetness
Organic matter	Moderate; avoid excessive nitrogen
Nitrogen	Light, consistent feeding; too much reduces curl density
Climate	Thrives in frost, rain, and low light