Collards 'Top Bunch'

DETAILS:

QTY: 50

SITE: Part Sun - Cool Season

TYPE: Annual

DEPTH: 1/4 - 1/2"

GERMINATION: 6-12 Days at 25 - 32°C

MATURITY: 50 Days from direct seeding

SPACING: See below

HOW TO GROW:
Collards prefer a fertile, well-drained soil high in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0–7.5. Consistent moisture will produce the best quality leaves. Because collards are very cold tolerant, they also do well in the North, where their flavor is enhanced by frost and cold weather.

DIRECT SEEDING:
Plant from early spring to approximately 3 months before expected fall frost. For bunching, sow 3–4 seeds every 12-18", ½" deep, in rows 18–36" apart. Thin to 1 plant per group. For baby leaf production, sow 60 seeds per foot in a 2–4" wide band ¼–½" deep.

EARLY SPRING CROP:
Sow 2 seeds per cell in 50- to 72-cell plug flats. Or in outdoor beds 1/4 - 1/2" deep. Seedlings should be ready to transplant in 4-6 weeks. If possible keep soil temperature over 24°C until germination, then reduce air temperature to about 16°C. Transplant outdoors 12–18" apart in rows 18–36" apart. Collards prefer cooler growing temperatures, between 13–24°C, optimum being 16–21°C, but will produce good crops under warmer, summer conditions.

FALL CROP:
Start seedlings as above in May and transplant to the garden in June–July. To ensure mature heads, seed the crop early in areas where heavy freezes occur early in fall.