Your 2025 Garden

[NanaK]

I wonder if I can grow collards in the green house? It's not heated. But maybe it also doesn't have the bugs that have eaten EVERY SINGLE COLLARD I have ever tried to grow!

I think if you experiment with timing you can.

They are very heat and cold hardy. Just know that a larger plant is more cold hardy then a seedling. As days get shorter growth slows also. I set seed in mid July indoors underlights. About 4 week old plants move to greenhouse then to morning sun to get ready for the ground. It is hard to keep seed moist and away from bugs in July/Aug. This method helps me tremendously. I have a big harvest Oct and Nov. to freeze for us and share with a few family members. I like to have 25-30 plants. Only a few plants would occasionally feed 2 just fine.

Many old timer's (gee, I think I'm one now. lol) will set out small plants in March when they plant potatoes. They grow collards all summer, fall and winter. Never cutting whole plants.
During warm weather Brassicas will draw every bug in the county! This is why I just grow during the cooler months. During summer I grow other things.

Maybe this will help you decide how it works with your climate. I am zone 8a they say but I still make gardening decisions like zone 7.

 

[NanaK]

The collards also help me give some greens to the chickens through the winter. They will eat but don't care for the mustards as much.

 

[jxp]

I would probably not put these in the freezer. Just wash, remove large stems and cook them. $1.48 lb is a good price.

I like a mix. When adding to the pot, I tear the largest ones.

That would have been just fine. I tend to check BYC more as weather cools. I have more time. I don't have alerts set up on my phone, only my laptop.

Excellent choice. Baked sweet potato goes very well served beside collards and cornbread. Yum!

I really enjoy taking some from the freezer and don't have to pick, wash, cook.
Be careful giving them to the chickens! Mine will almost knock me down getting to the collards.

Thanks!

 

[fuzzi]

The collards also help me give some greens to the chickens through the winter. They will eat but don't care for the mustards as much.

Mine love collards and lettuce, just like turnip greens, and will peck at the arugula I planted this year. I like being able to give my chickens fresh greens most of the year.

Look at what's left of two big collard leaves!

I place the stone on top of the plant stems to hold the leaves in place.

 

[Debbie292d]

Mine love collards and lettuce, just like turnip greens, and will peck at the arugula I planted this year. I like being able to give my chickens fresh greens most of the year.

View attachment 4243037
Look at what's left of two big collard leaves!

I place the stone on top of the plant stems to hold the leaves in place.

That is brilliant about the stone! We raise kale for ours. I hold it by the ends with leaves out in a bunch, and they all come up and eat it. Otherwise, I've tied twine around a bunch and hung it in the coop. But the stone is an excellent idea for the growout pens, or out in the yard when I don't have time to stand there holding it, as there's no place to hang anything in those.

 

[fuzzi]

That is brilliant about the stone! We raise kale for ours. I hold it by the ends with leaves out in a bunch, and they all come up and eat it. Otherwise, I've tied twine around a bunch and hung it in the coop. But the stone is an excellent idea for the growout pens, or out in the yard when I don't have time to stand there holding it, as there's no place to hang anything in those.

Thanks, I just came up with that idea one day.

I used a brick, here.

 

[Sally PB]

That is brilliant about the stone!

I second that!