Learn The best way to Get began Collards from Seed

Collards are a cool-season crop. Collards thrive in temperatures between 65°F and 75°F (18-24°C) and can withstand frost down to 25°F (-4°C).

If summers are warmth for your house, get began collards in late wintry climate or early spring for a late spring or early summer time harvest. Where summers are cool, plant in mid-to-late spring for late summer time and fall harvest. Where summers are sizzling, sow seed in midsummer for a late fall or early wintry climate harvest.

Collards are very hardy and most flavorful after being hit by way of frost. Time your planting so that collards come to harvest in cool local weather.

Collards mature in 80 days depending on the variety.

Table of Contents

Collard sowing and planting pointers

Get began collards from seed or transplants.
Collard seeds are viable for 4 years.
Get began seeds indoors 6 to 4 weeks previous than the last frost in spring or 12 to 10 weeks previous than the main frost in fall.
Get began seeds in particular person pots or flats.
Sow seed ¼ to ½ (6-13 cm) inch deep inside the seed-starting mix.
Keep the mix rainy then again no longer wet.
Collard seed should germinate in 5 to 10 days at an optimal temperature of 75°F (24°C) or thereabouts.
Transplant seedlings into the garden when they are 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) tall with 2- to 4-leaves and sunlight hours temperatures achieve 50°F (10°C); corporate transplants into the soil by way of hand.
Prefers a soil pH range of 6.0 to 7.5.
Set transplants relatively deeper than they grew in pots or flats.
Expand collards in entire sun for absolute best yield—tolerates partial colour.
Add 3- to 4- inches of compost and well-aged manure into planting bed, previous than transplanting; collards need friable, moisture-holding soil.
Keep away from planting where cabbage family plants have grown in recent times.
Space plants 18 to 20 inches (45-50 cm) apart in all directions.
Space rows 24-42 inches (60-106 cm) apart.
Offer protection to seedlings from the cold for 2 to a couple of weeks after planting by way of protecting them with a cloche or plastic tunnel or cold frame.
Fertilize with an herbal fertilizer very similar to fish emulsion at phase energy.
No longer odd pest enemies are aphids, cabbage worms and loopers, cabbage worms, and cutworms.

Additional pointers at: The best way to Expand Collards.

Interplanting: Expand collards with beets, green onions, peas, southern peas, tomatoes, or peppers.

Container Emerging: A single plant will broaden in a 10-inch (25 cm) pot that is 12 inches (30 cm) deep.

Collard planting calendar

For spring harvest:

8-7 weeks previous than the last frost in spring: get began seeds indoors.
8-6 weeks previous than the last frost in spring: direct-sow seed inside the garden underneath a plastic tunnel.
4-3 weeks previous than the last frost in spring: direct-sow seed inside the garden without cover; minimum soil temperature should be 40°
3-2 weeks previous than the last frost in spring: transplant seedlings into the garden.

For fall and wintry climate harvest:

16-14 weeks previous than the main frost in fall: get began seed indoors.
14-12 weeks previous than the main frost in fall: direct-sow seed inside the garden.
12-8 weeks previous than the main frost in fall: transplant seedlings into the garden underneath a plastic tunnel.