Collards
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Collards are a hardy, easy-to-grow, cool-season crop that is closely related to kale. They are very cold-hardy but can tolerate some heat, more so than many other brassicas. Collards are popular in several regions around the world. Although Collards are commonly associated with Southern cuisine, they are also well-suited for cold-region growing. Collards are often grown as a spring or a fall crop, however in cooler regions they can be planted in spring and harvested continuously throughout the entire season. In milder regions collards can be sown in fall and grown over winter. Collard plants produce large leaves; while the stems are technically edible they are often cut away when preparing the leaves. Young leaves can be used raw while mature, full-size leaves are usually cooked. Some gardeners also grow baby collards which can be used on their own or combined with other greens in a salad mix.
How to Grow Collards
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Growing from Seed
Collard seeds can be directly sown in the garden in early spring or they can be started indoors. If starting indoors, keep the seed starting mix consistently moist but not wet. A heat mat can be used to aid germination but excessive heat after germination can cause the seedlings to become leggy and weak. Turn off heat mats as soon as seedlings emerge and be sure your grow room is cool. Use grow lights to provide supplemental light as soon as the seeds germinate.
Planting Considerations
Collards prefer fertile, loamy soil that retains moisture but does not become waterlogged. Add compost to the soil at the time of planting. Collards planted for baby leaf production can be spaced much more intensively than collards grown for full-sized leaves. If growing full-size plants (i.e., not baby collards), apply mulch around the plants to manage weeds and to help retain moisture. Collards are susceptible to many pests. Proper plant spacing, good weed control, and applying row cover or insect netting at the time of planting can help to minimize pest damage. To grow collards in a container be sure to choose a container that holds at least 3 gallons.
Feeding
Collards are heavy feeders. Fertilize regularly throughout the growing season with a balanced fertilizer (unless you are growing baby collards in which case incorporate fertilizer at the time of planting). Collards require ample sulfur and boron. If your soil test indicates a deficiency be sure to amend your soil prior to planting broccoli.
Harvesting
Baby collard greens are harvested when the plants are very young by cutting the entire topmost part of the plant with a knife. Larger individual leaves can be harvested once the plant is at least 10-12" (25-30 cm) tall. To harvest collard leaves snap or cut the lowermost leaves off the plant as close to the stalk as possible. Leave the upper leaves intact to continue growing. The flavor of collard leaves gets sweeter after frost so keep plants growing well into fall and even winter. Row cover can help to extend the harvest.
Storage
Whole collard leaves can be stored in the fridge for up to several days. Collards can also be chopped, blanched, cooled and dried then transferred to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and frozen. Collards can be kept frozen for up to several months. Collard leaves can also be fermented for long-term storage.
