BrassicasBrassicaceae
Collards.
Cool seasonDeer-resistant
At a glance
The spec sheet.
- Indoor start
- Optional; direct sow works
- Direct sow / out
- Apr 1 (spring) / Jul–Aug (fall)
- Germ
- 5–10 days
- Days to harvest
- 60–85
- Spacing
- 18–24"
- Depth
- ¼"
- Square-foot
- 1 per square
- Qty target
- 4–6 plants for regular meals.
Plant
Direct sow or transplant. Heartier and slightly larger than kale; needs more room.
Care
Row cover for cabbage moth. Steady water, side-dress with compost when leaves start filling in.
Harvest
Pick outer leaves once they're hand-sized; plant keeps producing all fall. Frost sweetens them, same as kale.
Blanch and freeze; also braises freeze well.
Companion planting
What collards likes, and doesn’t.
More in this family