Beginner Gardening: New To Gardening, 1 by Gymgirl

Gymgirl wrote:
Mustard and collard greens are a piece 'o cake to grow. They do like the cool/cold weather, and will survive occasional dips down to the mid-30s with some protection. I have grown them for two seasons now, and they are a staple in my fall/winter garden. Be advised, they are total WATER hogs, and prefer to grow in soil that's kept moderately moist. They grow fast, too. I harvest by cutting the leaves when they are about 18-20" long (some like cutting them as "baby" leaves, but I cook mine overnight in a slow cooker, so I like the larger leaves). Once I harvest the outer leaves, I leave enough young leaves to continue the plants growth, and I can harvest another batch almost every 4-6 weeks!

I have found that the greens grow best around daily temps of 55°-45°. They LOVE that mid-40° range!

Collards are hardier than mustards, although the mustards can hold their own with protection. If temps are dipping below the mid-30°s for more than 1 night or a couple days in a row, I'll cover all the greens with hoops and some old sheets. If it's gonna be a hard, sustained freeze, I'll water down all the leaves and the soil first, then protect with sheets and lightweight blankets. They do just fine!

Linda

This is a batch of collards 4 weeks after the last cutting. See how fast they grow back?



This message was edited Sep 21, 2011 11:03 AM