Collards and Collard Greens
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Collards
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow collards in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- How many plants of collards to plant
- Growing conditions for collards
- When to plant collards
- How to plant collards
- Watering, fertilizing, and pruning collards
- Companion plantings for collards
- How to harvest, store, and use collards
Growing Collards
Collards are warm-season, biennial or short-lived perennial, leafy green vegetables. Collards grow as an open, leafy plant, 1–3 ft. (30–90 cm) tall and wide, with a stout, central stalk bearing bluish green leaves. Collards are close relatives of broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, all cole-family vegetables. [See also: Broccoli, Cabbage and Cauliflower.]
The plants tolerate sustained heat and grow into late-autumn frosts, improving in flavor after temperatures drop.
Collard Plant and Care Guide
How Much to Plant
Allow 2–3 plants per household member.
How to Plant
Seed germinates in 10–15 days.
Average Climates: Sow seed indoors 4–6 weeks before last expected frost and harden seedlings 4–7 days before transplanting.
Mild-Winter Climates: Sow seed or plant transplants in spring, autumn, or winter. Set out seedlings in partial shade when soil warms to 50–85°F (10–29°C).
Autumn–Winter Gardens: Sow seed from May–July or transplants from June–August for harvest in winter–spring.
Sow seed 1/4-in. (6-mm) deep, 2 in. (50 mm) apart, thinning to 18–24 in. (45–60 cm) apart, in rows 3 ft. (90 cm) apart.
Plant successions 2–3 weeks apart.
Best Conditions for Growth
Growing temperature: 45–75°F (7–24°C). Best in warm, humid climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich. 5.5–6.8 pH. Rotate plantings with legumes to avoid nitrogen depletion.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize monthly with 10–10–10 formula or well-rotted manure. Mulch. Cultivate. In cold-winter climates, in autumn trim remaining leaves from the stalks and carefully dig the roots; heel roots into moist wood chips or sand, store in a cool place, watering occasionally, then replant in spring; in mild-winter climates, leave plants in beds under mulch.
Pairing Recommendations
Husk tomatoes, southern peas, peppers, and tomatoes.
Maturity, Picking and Gathering
60–90 days. Cut greens sparingly from central stem beginning when plants reach 12 in. (30 cm) tall. As new leaves emerge, additional greens may be harvested.
How to Store and Preserve
Fresh in vegetable keeper of refrigerator for 1 week; steamed and frozen, 3–4 months. Use thinned leaves as tender, tasty greens for salads.