That IS odd. Not familiar with that variety, so somebody else should be able to tell you. BUT...do you happen to live near Chernobyl? ;)

Kevin

This is completely normal in Red Russian kale.

Normal.

Rodney

Here is a link that might be useful: Hairy kale??

And a third vote for completely normal in Red Russian.

I love this kale. If you leave a few plants to go to seed you will never need to sow it again. To get a new row I cut some old flower stems with the pods on and lay them along newly sown pea rows to keep the cats off the fresh earth. By the time the peas are finished and cut down (NOT pulled) there will be a row of Red Russian seedlings in their place using the nitrogen from the pea roots to get started in life. They just need thinning and there you go.

You guys rock! Floral, I'll have to try that reseeding trick, it sounds very streamlined.