How to Grow Collards

Quick Guide to Growing Collards

Plant collard greens in spring 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost. ...
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in an area with full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8.
Improve your native soil by mixing in several inches of compost or other rich organic matter.

How long does it take to grow collard greens?
Do collard greens grow back?
What is the best time to plant collard greens?
What is the season for collard greens?
What can you not plant near collard greens?
What is the best fertilizer for collard greens?
How do you know when Collard greens are ready to harvest?
Can collard greens grow in winter?
How do I keep bugs from eating my collard greens?
How much sun do collard greens need?
How far apart do you plant collard greens?
Can you eat collard greens after they flower?

How long does it take to grow collard greens?

Collards need about 80 days to mature from seed to harvest, but this can vary by variety, so check the back of your seed packet or plant pick. Depending on where you live, you might be able to do a spring planting of collards, though these greens won't have the benefit of a sweetening frost.

Do collard greens grow back?

Vegetables that have leaves growing in a rosette form are the “come again” choices. ... Common vegetables like kale, collards, chard, leaf lettuce, Chinese cabbage and spinach grow as rosettes. Some that are not as common include mustard greens, cress, mizuna, endive, chervil, arugula and tatsoi.

What is the best time to plant collard greens?

When and Where to Plant

The collard is a cool-season crop that should be grown during early spring or fall. Direct seed midsummer or early spring. Set transplants out in early spring or late summer. The mature plant will withstand frosts and light to medium freezes.

What is the season for collard greens?

A member of the Brassica family, closely related to kale and mustard greens, collard greens hit peak season January through April. Collards are characterized by smooth, broad, dark green leaves, and a slightly bitter, mellow, smoky flavor.

What can you not plant near collard greens?

Collard greens are in the same plant family as cabbage, broccoli, kale, and cauliflower, so they should not be planted together. If planted in large quantities together, they will use the same nutrients in the soil, resulting in generally less nutrients that the plants need.

What is the best fertilizer for collard greens?

Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer, such as nitrate of soda (15-0-0) or calcium nitrate (16-0-0), or a garden fertilizer with high concentrations of nitrogen and less phosphorus, such as 27-3-3, 24-0-15 or similar formulation.

How do you know when Collard greens are ready to harvest?

Collard leaves are ready for harvest as soon as they reach usable size. They will be most tasty when picked young–less than 10 inches long and dark green. Older leaves will be tough and stringy. Collard greens are ready for harvest 75 to 85 days from transplants, 85 to 95 days from seed.

Can collard greens grow in winter?

With protection, you can harvest collard greens well into winter. ... In USDA hardiness zones 8 and higher, you will get your tastiest crop by planting in the fall and harvesting throughout the winter. Cool weather sweetens most cooking greens and collard greens are no exceptions.

How do I keep bugs from eating my collard greens?

Combine five parts water, two parts isopropyl alcohol and 1 teaspoon of dish liquid in a spray bottle. Spray the collard greens thoroughly, contacting all parts of the leaves once a week, to control flea beetles.

How much sun do collard greens need?

Like all vegetables, collards like full sun, but they will tolerate partial shade as long as they get the equivalent of 4 to 5 hours of sun to bring out their full flavor. Plant in fertile soil because collards should grow fast to produce tender leaves.

How far apart do you plant collard greens?

Space collard plants about 18 inches apart.

Can you eat collard greens after they flower?

Cut them at the base of the stem, cut off the leaves, and put the stems in water. You can even add the little yellow blooms from your spent collards, broccoli, mustard, and kale to salads! They taste deliciously peppery.