How to Grow Collards

Filed under: How to Grow, Tagged as: collards, how to grow

Collards are a cool-weather crop. Start seed indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost in spring. Sow seed outdoors when the soil can be worked in spring. Place transplants in the garden when they are 3 to 4 inches tall as early as 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring. In mild-winter regions, start seed in late summer for a winter or spring harvest.

 

How to prepare and cook collards: click here.

 

Description. Collards are a hardy biennial grown as an annual. Collards grow 2 to 3 feet tall with rosettes of large, non-heading, waxy leaves growing on sturdy stems. Collard is a kind of kale and a primitive member of the cabbage family.

 

Yield. Plant 2 to 3 collard plants per household member.

 

Site. Grow collards in full sun. Collards prefer organically rich well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Add aged compost to planting beds in advance of planting especially where soil is sandy.

 

Planting time. Collards are a cool-weather crop and can tolerate temperatures as low as 20°F. Collards are more tolerant of heat than cabbage. Collards are usually grown from transplants. Start seed indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost in spring. Sow seed outdoors when the soil can be worked in spring. Place transplants in the garden when they are 3 to 4 inches tall as early as 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring. In most regions, collards can be planted in early spring and again in late summer for fall or winter harvest. In late summer, directly sow seed in the garden. In mild-winter regions, start seed in late summer for a winter or spring harvest.

Planting and spacing. Sow seed 1 inch deep and 3 inches apart. Thin collards to 12 inches apart when seedlings are big enough to lift by their true leaves. Space rows 24 inches apart. Transplant thinned seedlings to another part of the garden when plants have 4 or 5 true leaves. Transplants that are leggy or have crooked stems should be set deeply up to their first leaves so that won't grow to be top heavy.

 

Water and feeding. Water collards regularly so that leaves do not grow tough. Under-watering may cause collards to become stringy. Add aged compost to the planting bed before planting and side dress plants with compost at midseason. Aged manure can be added to planting beds the autumn before planting.

 

Companion plants. Tomatoes, southern peas, peppers. Do not plant with celery, potatoes, yams.

 

Care. Mulch around collards to keep the soil moist. Plants that grow top heavy may need staking.

 

Container growing. Collards can be grown in containers. A single plant can be grown in a 10-inch pot. In larger containers set collards on 18 to 24 inches centers.

 

Pests. Collards may be attacked by cabbage family pests: cutworms, cabbage loopers (preceded by small yellow and white moths), and imported cabbage worms. Handpick these pests or spray plants with bacillus thuringiensis.

 

Diseases. Collards have no serious disease problems.

 

Harvest. Collards are ready for harvest 85 to 95 days from seeding and 75 to 85 days from transplanting. Pick or cut leaves on a cut-and-come-again schedule as soon as plants reach12 inches tall. Harvest young, tender leaves from the bottom up; cut leaves before they get old and tough. Frost will cause some of the carbohydrates in the plants to turn to sugar and can make leaves sweeter tasting. Complete the harvest before the first hard freeze.

 

Varieties. Blue Max (68 days); Champion (60-80 days); Georgia (70-80 days); Top Bunch (67 days); Vates (55-80 days).

 

Storing and preserving. Collards can be stored in the refrigerator up to one week or in a cold moist place for 2 to 3 weeks. Collards can be frozen, canned, or dried.

 

Common name. Collards

Botanical name. Brassica oleracea acephala

Origin. Europe

Grow 80 vegetables: KITCHEN GARDEN GROWERS' GUIDE

Posted by Stephen Albert on February 11, 2009 under: How to Grow , Tagged as: collards, how to grow
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