While many people consider collard greens a “Southern” food, this delicious leafy green has been cultivated for thousands of years. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on fancy equipment to grow your greens. All you need is a few common household items and a garden to grow a crop of nutritious, delicious produce. Keep reading the article, you will learn about how to grow collard greens from the stem?.
In this article:
Growing Collard Greens from the Stem
Collard greens are an easy way to eat your vegetables without having to get out of bed. But, they’re often overlooked when it comes to nutrition.
I’m a big believer in the notion that the best way to eat a collard green is from the stem. For those of you who aren’t familiar with collard greens, they’re a leafy green that’s grown in the southeastern U.S. and other parts of the world. The leaves are dark-green in color, and the flavor is slightly sweet and earthy. Collard greens are an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of growing collard greens. We’ll show you everything you need to know to grow delicious, nutritious collard greens at home.
You can even grow collard and spring greens from scraps so you don’t have to fork out for seeds.
What Are Collard & Spring Greens?
Collard and spring greens are related leafy vegetables but are different varieties. Both have a deep, earthy flavor and are rich in antioxidants. They both can be eaten raw, or you can add them to your dishes. Collards and spring greens are often used interchangeably, but you should know the difference so you know what you’re talking about.
What Month To Plant Collard Greens?
The season for planting collard greens is from late September through early November. So when should you plant your collards? The rule of thumb is to plant them in your garden when the weather has warmed up a bit. Collard greens are cold-tolerant, but if you plant them in late September or early October, they’ll go into winter dormancy and you won’t get a harvest until spring.
You can grow collards in the same area where you’re planting your winter squash, and they’ll both mature at about the same time. This is because collards and winter squash are part of the same Cucurbitaceae family.
How Long Do Collard Greens Take To Grow?
If you’ve had a chance to grow some collards and find them not to be particularly quick, that’s because they’re not. True collard is a leafy green vegetable that’s usually harvested when the plant is about 10 to 12 weeks old. When the plant reaches this age, the leaves have formed a heart-shaped leaf, so-called because it looks like the shape of a heart.
While some varieties need at least six to seven weeks to get a yield worth eating. There is some good news though. Collard greens don’t require a lot of time in the garden, since they can grow in any kind of soil, and they thrive in temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
How To Grow Collard Greens From scraps?
We’re talking about the leftover base of shop-bought collard greens, and if you’ve ever done any cooking, you know how difficult it can be to get all the moisture out of those tough collard leaves. It turns out that the collard leaves contain more water than you might think. If you were to just put them in a small jar or bowl, the leaves would quickly fill up with water, and then they’d continue to release that water for some time. Then when you add a little bit of dirt to the collard greens, the soil absorbs the water and it doesn’t take much to create new roots.
This is one of the best tips for growing collard greens from scraps. Collard greens are a great choice for anyone looking to eat their greens, but they also grow very well in small spaces, such as on your windowsill or in the kitchen window. They need a lot of sunlight and a minimum amount of space. You can use any of the tips here to grow collard greens, but you will want to add fertilizer to your soil.
Growing Collard Greens In Containers
The variety of collard that we’re growing in these containers is ‘The Dark Green’, a variety that is very fast and productive. They don’t have big roots, so you don’t have to worry about them taking up too much room in the pot, even if they get large and start shading the leaves.
Growing collard greens in containers is a great idea for small apartment dwellers who don’t want to devote valuable real estate to gardening. Containers are small enough to easily fit into any apartment, and they take up little space on the kitchen countertop. They also keep your plants healthy. To grow collard greens, simply place the seeds in the soil. When the seedlings are ready, remove the container and set it on a sunny windowsill. Once they’re about 6 inches tall, the leaves should begin to form. Harvest regularly and enjoy!
How Often To Water Collard Greens?
In addition to knowing how much and how often to water your plants, another important consideration is when you water. Plants need time to dry out before they can be watered again. If they’re too wet, they’ll begin to rot. While you don’t want to overwater them, you don’t want them to be underwatered either. Here are some tips for keeping plants happy.
Most collard greens like to be kept moist, but not soggy. They need about an inch of water a week if it’s not been raining. If your cabbages get too dry in late spring they may bolt and flower.
Harvesting Collard Greens
The secret to keeping these greens growing and abundant is to harvest them early and often. You’ll be rewarded with lots of big leaves, while the smaller ones on your plants will continue to grow.
After you harvest your collard greens, there are many things you can do with them besides put them in your salad. Try this recipe from Cooking Light: Roasted Collard Greens with Bacon.
Step by Step Growing Technique of Collard Green from the Stem
- Harvest seeds when the stem is 1-3 inches long.
- Grow in direct sunlight.
- Plant in late Spring or early Summer.
- Water regularly throughout the season, and don’t worry about weeds.
- Fertilize once with 10-10-10, and stop fertilizing in late summer.
- Harvest in mid to late fall, and pick a few leaves every few days.
- When mature, wash and dry thoroughly, then store in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Serve with butter or bacon.
Conclusion
To grow your Collard Greens, you need to find the perfect temperature and time to grow them. The ideal temperature for growing is between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, to ensure that the plant doesn’t wilt or turn black, it’s best to leave it in a shady spot during the day and bring it into the full sun at night. Your plant should be watered regularly, as well. It’s best to water the leaves, as opposed to the whole plant. Once the plants have been trimmed and trimmed back to the ground, they are ready to begin. From there, you’ll need to wait approximately 5 weeks before harvesting your greens.
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