How Do You Plant Collards?

Growing Collards: How to Get it Right

Collards are the heavyweight champs of leafy greens, shrugging off frost with a cocky resilience while delivering that deep, earthy flavor we crave. But growing collards demands a bit of strategy. These aren’t your fussy prima donnas—no, they’re hearty, forgiving, and generous, if you treat them right.

Timing is Everything

Start with the seasons. Collards thrive in cool weather, so plant them as you’d plan a hearty stew—either early spring or late summer for a fall harvest. Skip midsummer; they’ll sulk in the heat.

If you’re sowing seeds directly, aim for about four to six weeks before the last frost in spring. Transplanting? Give those seedlings two to three weeks to toughen up outside before their debut in the soil.

Pick the Perfect Spot

Collards love full sun, but they can tolerate a bit of shade. Go for well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. I’ve seen collards take off in beds I’d amended with deeply composted kitchen scraps—those leaves were practically begging to be sauteed in garlic.

They appreciate a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Grab a pH test kit if you’re unsure. Too acidic? Add lime. Too alkaline? A little sulfur nudges it back in balance.

How to Plant Collards

Direct Seeding

• Plant seeds about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, and space them roughly 18 inches apart.
• If you’re feeling fancy, stagger your plantings every two weeks for a continuous harvest.

Transplanting Seedlings

• Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and plant them at the same depth they were in the pot.
• Rows should be at least 24-36 inches apart, so the leaves have room to spread like a dinner table centerpiece.

“Collards are incredibly productive. A single plant can yield for weeks, as long as you keep those outer leaves picked.”

Watering and Care

Collards are thirsty but not needy. Keep the soil consistently moist, especially as the plants establish themselves. Once they’re growing strong, aim for about 1-1.5 inches of water per week.

Mulch is non-negotiable, in my opinion. A thick layer of straw or shredded leaves locks in moisture and keeps weeds from staging a coup.

Feeding Your Collards

These greens are heavy feeders. Side-dress with compost or give them a drink of compost tea every few weeks during the growing season. If you’re using a balanced fertilizer, go easy—it’s better to underfeed than overdo it.

In my experience, fish emulsion makes their leaves sing. Just don’t go overboard unless you want your garden to smell like low tide.

Dealing with Pests and Problems

Cabbage worms and aphids are your biggest headaches here. I’ve spent more afternoons than I care to admit plucking tiny green caterpillars off collard leaves. Handpick them or use a natural spray like neem oil if they get out of hand.

Rotating crops helps prevent soil-borne diseases. Don’t plant collards in the same spot as other brassicas (like broccoli or cabbage) year after year. A little planning now saves big headaches later.

Harvesting Collards

Harvest the lower leaves once they’re large enough to eat. Don’t strip the plant bare; leave some leaves so it keeps growing. Fall-harvested collards get sweeter after a frost. That’s not just folklore—it’s plant chemistry at work.

Bag those leaves, blanch them if you must, but honestly, collards are best fresh. Steam them, stew them, sauté them—whatever your style, they’re ready to steal the show.

“Collards don’t just survive the frost—they *thrive* in it, turning into sugar-packed flavor bombs as the cold sets in.”

Growing collards is as much about patience as it is planning. Treat them well, and they’ll reward you with a harvest that’ll make your neighbors jealous—and maybe a little curious. Isn’t that the real point of gardening anyway?

As you can see, with a few simple steps, you can plant collards in your garden in no time. By finding the right location and planting the seeds appropriately, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor as the plants develop. With dedication and patience, your collards will yield a rich harvest that is sure to reward your hard work!