Growing Collards
Collards are sturdy brassica greens that reward a longer fall runway than baby salad crops. Once established, a plant can supply outer leaves repeatedly through cool weather.
At a glance
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Family | Brassica |
| Season | Cool season |
| Frost tolerance | Frost tolerant |
| Planting | Direct sow or transplant in spring and late summer |
| Spacing | 12-18 in for regular harvest; wider for full plants |
| Harvest | Young leaves early; fuller plants in roughly 55-80 days |
Establishment
For a late-summer crop, direct sow into moist soil or transplant young, unstressed seedlings. Keep water consistent during establishment; heat at planting can matter even though the mature crop prefers cool weather.
Give plants airflow and harvest access. Close spacing can work for young leaves, but a full plant needs room and can shade its neighbors.
Harvest from the bottom up
Take the largest sound outer leaves and leave the growing center intact. Frequent harvest keeps leaves useful and makes caterpillars, aphids, and disease symptoms easier to see.
Like other brassicas, collards can benefit from early row cover where flea beetles or cabbage worms are persistent. Rotate with kale, cabbage, bok choy, radishes, arugula, and turnips in mind.
Record transplant or sowing date, first harvest, frost exposure, leaf tenderness, and pest timing. Compare flavor before and after cool nights.