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Growing Collards 

Written by Peter Horn on .

Collards Gardening

One of the most nutritious and healthy vegetables, Collards are referred to as a member of the cultivar group of Brassica oleracea and are commonly confused with several green leafy vegetables. A member of the Virdis group, this vegetable is extremely healthy for it has a very low amount of calories and is rich in nutrients like vitamins, proteins, and minerals. The edible part of this vegetable are its leaves, and these are the reason people mostly grow this vegetable for. Despite being a remote relative of cabbage, collards do not have any heads. They are quite strong in the sense that they can easily tolerate more heat and cold, both when compared to other vegetables of their group. You can easily grow collards in your garden provided you live in a region where this plant can be grown and have enough space. Below, we are sharing the method as well as other details that you need to be able to grow collards in your garden, especially if you have never done that before.So, without further ado, let us begin:

Different Collards Types

There are different types of collards that you can grow depending on what you prefer, where you live, and what you exactly need from the collard that you work on growing. Some of the common varieties of different cultivars are as follows:
  • Champion:n ancient variety that Romans used to love. This one can grow almost anywhere and yield at high rates. It is quite resistant to other types and can grow up to 34 inches.
  • Georgia Southern:This one is another old variety that grows well in southern parts of the world. It can be harvested in 80 days and is a bit slow for bolting.
  • Vates:The variety grown the most in Texas and other parts of the USA. This one is said to be a hybrid variety that sprouted during the time of the Great Depression. It has wide and dark-colored leaves and the plant takes around 70 days for harvesting.
  • Merritt:A unique collard type. This one is a pollinated type coming from Vates and Georgia with a mix of Kale. It has been discovered just recently and tastes amazing.  It can grow up to 6 feet in height and looks great too.

Collards Harvest Time

Most collards require 80-90 days from their date of plantation before they are fully ready for harvest. You can check whenever the leaves are around 10 inches long and have a dark green color with glossy, fresh looks and then begin with harvesting. The older leaves are often stingy and hence it is better not to let the plant stay in the field for that long.  Try picking up lower leaves first and then go upwards. Also, you can even harvest the leaves when they are a little frozen because of cold. However, you have to be very careful in handling frozen leaves.     You can harvest collards in two ways. Either by cutting the plant around 4 inches above the ground or by taking out the leaves individually. An exposure to a light frost can enhance collard’s taste a bit but you have to be very careful so you do not expose the plant to damaging cold temperatures.

Collards Water And Light Requirements

Collards require more than enough amounts of water and light, both. Make sure you can maintain a consistent supply of each. Collards must be planted where the soil is always moist and shallow watering every day or on alternate days in a way that the overall intake of water in no more than 16 gallons per week is recommended. As for the light, make sure it reaches the soil directly but is not too warm or harsh to devoid the soil of water and moisture.

How To Grow Collards?

Growing collards is not a very lengthy or hard process. Just make sure you follow the steps in time:
  • Start indoor seeding in pots and planters around 6 weeks before the frost date on which you plan to shift the transplants outdoor.
  • Make sure you keep the indoor plants covered and full of moisture. However, nearer to the days of outdoor planting, make sure you start exposing the pots to light and outdoor conditions for a few hours each day.
  • The seeds indoors require around 8 days to sprout. Do not disturb them in the process.
  • Now, prepare the soil in a way that it can house the transplants well.
  • Select a place that receives full sun or light shade for most part of the day.
  • Prepare the soil in a way that it is full of moisture and rich in nutrients. The beds must be weed-free and fertile as well as well aerated to ensure proper ventilation.
  • Now, prepare beds in a way that the rows are 30 inches apart and you can sow seedling around 18 inches apart from each other.
  • Carefully sow the transplants and water the beds.
  • Keep on mulching and using fertilizers whenever needed.

Common Pests And Diseases

Collards are exposed to several diseases and pests unless you take good care of them. Here are some common pests that can attack your garden growth of Collards, especially when the plantation is young: Aphids: These small, white, pear-shaped worms can suck the leaves, emptying them of all their taste. Since they can damage so many plants in no time, using sprays to keep them away is your only option. Cabbage Worms: These are caterpillar-like worms that seem to love collards. They can eat up the plant, leaving holes in the leaves with no flavor left in them whatsoever. Other common problems to the crop can be:
  • Slugs
  • Snails
  • Deers
  • Mildew
  • Beetles
  • Harlequin Bugs

Remedies And Caring Tips For Disease Prevention

  • Water regularly
  • Do not let the frost cover the leaves for more than once
  • Use fertilizers and pesticides
  • Be very careful about plantation dates and plant on exact time