How to Grow:
Collard greens are a cool season crop that is planted 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost and 10 weeks before your first fall frost. You can see specific dates for your location using our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App.
Collard greens are planted 1/4 inch deep, 1 per square foot, in the full sun. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below. Collard greens sprout between 4-10 days and require moderate and consistent watering.
Companion Plants:
Companion planting is a vital part of organic gardening. Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. There are also plants that do not like being next to each other. Some plants get too tall and can provide too much shade for your plant. Sometimes certain plants attract the same pests, so it is important to try and separate these.
| Good | Bad | |
| Catnip | Oregano | Broccoli |
| Celery | Potatoes | Cabbage |
| Dill | Rhubarb | Cauliflower |
| Onions | Rosemary | Kale |
| Marigolds | Sage | Kohlrabi |
| Marjoram | Tarragon | Strawberries |
| Mint | Thyme | Tomatoes (bush & vine) |
| Nasturtiums | ||
See companion plants for 80+ foods in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web app!
Pests:
Pests can be one of the most difficult challenges you face in the garden. We strive to grow food without the use of pesticide and luckily there are natural solutions for most of these nasty pests! The pests listed below are common ones for collard greens:
Learn more about how to manage pests and attract beneficial insects in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App!
Harvesting:
Collard greens are ready to harvest within 50-60 days. You can start to harvest leaves when they are 10 inches long. Pick the leaves on the outside first, and work your way to the inner.
Cooking & Eating!
Learn more about growing over 80 different foods, including how to manage various pests in our FREE iOS, Android, or new Universal Web App!
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Carrie Spoonemore’s presence on the blog is marked by her compassionate approach to teaching and her unwavering belief in the transformative power of gardening. Her work continues to inspire a community of gardeners to pursue a healthier, more sustainable way of living, proving that with the right tools and knowledge, anyone can become a gardener and advocate for their health and the planet.
12 thoughts on “Collard Greens: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden!”
This is a vegetable that is still very uncommon here, although it was and likely still is popular in the Watts Neighborhood of Los Angles when I was doing my internships in 1988. Small plants were house warming gifts for those who moved into a new home. In the mild climate, they were grown as perennials that lasted for many years. As they got too big and overgrown, their sideshoots could be layered to develop into new plants.