A traditional Southern dish, Collards and Turnip Greens are fairly easy to grow. We will refer to collards in this article but you may use the same techniques for growing turnip greens or mustard.

Collards are a member of the cabbage family and have a distintive, different taste requiring a little longer cooking time than cabbage. Collards are high in vitamin A, low in calories and are fat free.

Collards like cool weather, even tolerating light frost. You may start collards indoors and transplant to the garden in early spring or you may sow seed directly in the garden.

Planting Seed

Collards have deep roots so the seed bed should be cultivated at least 10 inches deep and consist of light, rich sandy soil. Mix a 10-20-10 fertilizer well into the top 3-6 inches of soil.

Collards like a pH of around 6.0. Plant seed 1/2 inch deep in rows 2 feet apart. Water well taking care not to wash all the tiny seeds to the lowest point. The seeds will germinate in 6-12 days.

When the seedlings are about 2 inches tall, thin to 18 inches apart. Water throughly about once a week and keep weeds removed.

In mid-season when production slows, fertilize again with 10-20-10 fertilizer.

Harvesting

When the plants are 12 inches tall, harvest the outer leaves, leaving at least 3 sets of inner leaves to continue growing.

Pests

Collards are especially susceptible to aphids and cabbage worms. Look on all sides of the leaves for cabbage worms and hand pick. Look on the undersides of the leaves for aphids. Use insecticidal soap (Safer's) for aphids.

Here's a collards recipe to cook up all those collards you grew.



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