Collard greens are a beginner-friendly cool-season inexperienced to develop. They preserve producing for a very long time, style higher in cool climate, and tolerate frost higher than many different leafy crops. If you need a dependable inexperienced for fall, winter, and early spring, collards are a terrific selection. Learn to develop collard greens with the guidelines on this information.
Key Takeaways
Collard greens thrive in cool climate and tolerate frost properly, making them superb for fall and winter gardening.
They resemble different brassicas like kale and mustard greens however supply a gentle taste and durable leaves.
Plant collards in spring for a summer time harvest or in late summer time for a fall harvest, adjusting primarily based on the local weather.
Constant watering, wealthy soil, and pest administration are essential for wholesome collard development.
Collards have versatile makes use of in meals, together with sautéing, soups, stir-fries, and extra.
Collard greens vs different greens (fast overview)
When you’re attempting to determine which greens to develop this season, right here’s a fast comparability. It’s additionally a useful method to combine and match greens with totally different timing and taste, so you will have one thing to reap.
Collard greens: Sturdy leaves with a gentle taste. Very productive and among the best greens for colder climate.
Arugula: Quick-growing with a peppery chew. Nice for fast harvests. It might probably bolt because it warms up.
Mustard greens: Quicker development with a extra peppery, daring taste. Nice if you need fast harvests.
Swiss chard: Not a brassica and among the best greens for warmth. Wonderful for cut-and-come-again harvesting.
Kale: Just like collards and sometimes much more cold-hardy. Leaves can style sweeter after a frost.
Bok choy: Fast-growing and tender, however can bolt quicker. Greatest in cool climate.
Lettuce: Not a brassica. It bolts shortly in warmth and normally performs finest in gentle temperatures.
Spinach: Loves chilly climate and might deal with chilly circumstances, but it surely bolts shortly as temperatures heat up.
Malabar spinach: Not true spinach. A heat-loving vine with thick leaves that thrives in summer time when most greens wrestle. Greatest grown on a trellis and harvested usually for tender leaves.
When to plant collard greens (most climates)
In cooler and temperate climates
Spring crop: Sow seeds 2–3 weeks earlier than your final frost date, and once more a few weeks later for an extended harvest.
Fall crop: Sow seeds in late summer time by means of fall so crops mature as temperatures cool (usually higher taste and texture than spring crops).
In mild-winter and heat climates
Develop collard greens as a fall, winter, and early spring crop.
Keep away from late-spring planting, as a single heat spell can set off bolting and hard leaves.
Collard greens in Arizona (low desert planting dates)
If you wish to match collard greens with the remainder of your seasonal planting, my Arizona vegetable planting information makes it straightforward to see what to plant when.
Scorching local weather tip: In early fall and once more on the finish of the season, plant collard greens within the coolest areas that get pure afternoon shade and fewer solar, so that they last more and bolt later.
How one can plant collards
Select a spot with solar (morning solar is finest in heat areas).
Add compost earlier than planting. Collards develop finest in wealthy soil.
Plant seeds 1/4–1/2 inch deep and preserve soil evenly moist till they sprout.
Skinny or house crops:
12–18 inches aside for giant crops and huge leaves
6–8 inches aside for smaller crops or baby-leaf harvesting
If utilizing transplants, plant them on the similar depth they have been rising within the pot and water properly.
How one can look after collards
Water constantly. Uneven watering can gradual development and make leaves more durable.
Mulch to carry moisture and scale back weeds.
Feed a couple of times through the season if development slows or leaves look pale. Collards are leafy crops, so that they respect nitrogen. I like utilizing Agrothrive.
Collard greens frost tolerance
Collards deal with frost properly, and the flavour usually improves after a light-weight frost.
Small crops want extra safety than mature crops.
When a tough freeze is coming, cowl with frost material or row cowl and safe the sides.
A tough freeze is often outlined as air temperatures of 28°F (-2°C) or colder for a number of hours. This stage of chilly could cause important harm to tender crops. Collards are extra cold-hardy, however younger crops and outer leaves can nonetheless be broken, so overlaying continues to be a good suggestion.
Collards pests
Collards are a brassica (cole crop), so that they develop lots like kale, mustard greens, and bok choy, they usually share lots of the similar pests.
Cabbage worms and loopers (holes in leaves, inexperienced caterpillars)
Hand-pick or use Bt if you see small caterpillars
Row cowl helps forestall egg-laying
Aphids (clusters on new development, sticky leaves)
Spray off with water or use insecticidal cleaning soap
Harlequin bugs (black and orange shield-shaped bugs)
Hand-remove early, row cowl helps
Bagrada bugs (massive challenge in Arizona, particularly early fall)
Shield seedlings and new transplants with row cowl immediately
Scout usually and take away close by mustard-family weeds
How one can harvest collard greens
The easiest way is leaf-by-leaf, or cut-and-come once more harvesting:
Begin with the oldest, lowest leaves.
Go away the middle rising level so the plant retains producing.
You possibly can harvest child leaves early or wait for big leaves. Collards usually produce for weeks.
How one can use collard greens
Sauté with olive oil and garlic
Add to soups, beans, and stews
Slice skinny and add to stir-fries
Use massive leaves as a wrap as a substitute of tortillas
Blanch and freeze when you’ve got further
FAQ
Sure. Collards tolerate frost properly, and taste can enhance after mild frosts. Cowl younger crops throughout exhausting freezes.
Many sorts are prepared for full-size leaves in about 60–80 days, and you may harvest child leaves sooner.
Most frequently it’s cabbage worms/loopers or flea beetles. Test the undersides of leaves and deal with early.
Sure. Harvest outer leaves and the plant will preserve producing.
Sure. Use a big container (about 5 gallons per plant), wealthy soil, and constant watering.
Bolting can occur after a protracted chilly interval or as climate warms up in late winter and spring. Harvest closely if you see a flower stalk beginning to type.
