I grew some purple kale last year. In the fall, I harvested it, but left the root and bottom leaves in the garden, as advised by someone. This year, one plant shot up to 3-4' high and is flowering. I want to collect the seeds, but can't find them. I went to the flowers with a paintbrush, just in case they weren't pollinated, but the bumble bees seemed to be busy with the flowers, also. A couple of the first flowers have dropped their petals, but I don't see any seed pods developing, yet.

Don't worry, you will get seed, lots of them. They take awhile to make the seed. The seed pods will be long and thin. You will see lots of pods. The pods probably won't be ready to get seeds from until sometime in July. The seeds will be dark little balls.
Remy

Thank you. I took a closer look at the stamens where the flowers fell off. A couple are starting to get bumpy. Yippee. Seeds are forming. I guess I wait for them to dry in place like lettuce seeds.

I like the purple Kale in salads, stir fries and as an ornamental plant. I am so glad that I am getting some seeds so that I can keep growing it.

Northern gardeners may want to leave the root in the garden because the Kale may come back like mine did in the spring. This may be obvious to experienced growers, but it was a pleasant surprise for me.

Have you collected seeds?

I have finished collecting seeds of Early Russian Kale and boy do I have a ton of seeds. I put the branches of seed pods in a brown paper bag , pods first and left them to completely dry. Then I rubbed the pods and the seeds fell into the bottom of the bag.

wow that's good info.... thanks

Mine are still drying in the bag. I will have to take a picture. The main plant is still making leaves for my salads and stir fries. Maybe it will bloom again. I am not sure if the plant is reliably perennial, but I cut it at ground level last fall and it came back from the root this spring. I am getting a collection of paper bags. At least I managed to label most of them.

Typically, brassicas are considered temperate biennials. Since they prefer cool weather, you can plant a fall crop with some of those seeds.