Texsel Greens (Ethiopian Kale)
Brassica carinata
Approximately 70 seeds per pack.
Germination: 90% Oct 2024 Packed for 2025
Texsel Greens, also known as Ethiopian Kale or Brassica carinata, is a leafy green vegetable originating from Ethiopia. Known as habesha gomen in Ethiopia, and also as Abyssinian mustard or Texsel greens here, this cool plant is an African green in the cabbage family. It is part of the Brassica family, related to kale, mustard greens, and cabbage. Texsel Greens are highly valued for their fast growth, high yield, and mild, slightly nutty flavor.
Excellent raw in salads or as a base for wraps. Most often it is cooked as a sauté, stir-fry, or steamed for a tender and flavorful side dish. Added to soups and stews as a nutrient-rich component to the broths.
The pale purple stems and bluish leaves are beautiful, but the taste is its best attribute. Sweet and mild with a faint mustard quality, it can be used in any recipe that calls for kale, cabbage, mustard greens, or collards.
Ethiopian restaurants here typically use collards as a replacement for this plant because it's not commonly available. The species is believed to be the result of an ancient hybridization between some form of cabbage or kale (Brassica oleracea) and black mustard (B. nigra). There's a long history of using the seeds to produce oil, and it has even been used to make jet fuel.
From a seed farmer's perspective, this is a truly wonderful plant: unlike its biennial cousins, which must go through winter to produce seed, Ethiopian kale is an annual — so it produces seeds the same year you plant it. Being from equatorial Africa, it developed without much of a winter.
Key Characteristics: Texsel Greens have tender, smooth, broad leaves with a slight gloss. They are less fibrous than traditional kale, making them easier to eat raw or lightly cooked. The taste is mild and nutty, with a subtle hint of mustard-like spiciness, which diminishes with cooking. The plant grows quickly and is compact, making it suitable for small spaces or container gardening. It can be harvested in about 4–6 weeks after sowing. Like other leafy greens, Texsel Greens are nutrient-dense, rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and contain minerals like calcium and iron.
Growing Tips: It thrives in cooler temperatures but is more heat-tolerant than traditional kale, making it suitable for both spring and fall planting. Prefers well-draining, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Begin harvesting the outer leaves once the plant reaches about 6 inches in height. Continuous harvesting promotes new growth.
Texsel Greens are a versatile, easy-to-grow option for home gardeners and a great alternative to more traditional leafy greens. If you've never tried this special plant, now is your chance!
