Description
Georgia collard greens are a popular, hardy leafy green that thrives in a variety of climates, especially in the southern United States. Here’s how to grow them successfully:
1. Best Time to Plant
• Cool Weather Crop: Collard greens grow best in cooler weather.
• For a spring harvest, plant 2-4 weeks before the last frost.
• For a fall harvest, plant 6-8 weeks before the first frost. Collards are frost-tolerant and taste sweeter after light frosts.
2. Choose the Right Location
• Sunlight: Full sun is ideal (6+ hours per day), though they can tolerate partial shade.
• Soil: Collards prefer rich, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0–6.8. Add compost or aged manure to improve fertility.
3. Planting
• From Seeds:
• Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, spaced 6 inches apart.
• Once seedlings are 4-6 inches tall, thin them to 18-24 inches apart.
• From Transplants:
• Space plants 18-24 inches apart in rows that are 2-3 feet apart.
4. Watering
• Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Collards need about 1-1.5 inches of water per week. Deep watering encourages strong roots.
5. Fertilizing
• Collards are heavy feeders.
• Before planting, mix a balanced fertilizer or compost into the soil.
• Side-dress with nitrogen-rich fertilizer (e.g., blood meal or a 10-10-10 mix) 3-4 weeks after planting, and again every 3-4 weeks during the growing season.
6. Mulching
• Apply a layer of mulch (straw, wood chips, or grass clippings) around the base of the plants. This helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weeds.
7. Pest and Disease Management
• Common Pests:
• Cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles may target collards. Use floating row covers to protect plants, or spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil if necessary.
• Diseases: Avoid issues like downy mildew or black rot by planting in well-drained soil, spacing plants properly, and rotating crops yearly.
8. Harvesting
• Harvest leaves when they are 10-12 inches long. Start with the outer leaves, allowing the center to keep growing.
• Younger leaves are more tender, while mature leaves have a stronger flavor.
• Collards can continue to produce all season, especially in cooler weather.
9. Frost Tolerance
• Georgia collard greens are extremely hardy. A light frost can improve their flavor by reducing bitterness and enhancing sweetness.
You will get 30 seeds
