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Organic Vates Collard Seeds

Brassica oleracea

  • HOW TO GROW
  • FAST FACTS

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: For a spring crop, direct sow the seeds 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost. For a fall crop, direct sow the seeds 6-8 weeks before the first fall frost. For smaller plants, plant a few seeds every 12" and1/4 deep; later remove all but the strongest plant. If you need bigger plants, space them 2' apart. For companion planting benefits, plant collards with tomatoes.

Growing: Water regularly, and provide compost or organic fertilizer several times in the summer. Collards tolerate heat very well.

Harvesting: Begin gathering leaves when the plant reaches 10-12" high; take the outer leaves first. Eventually your plant will begin to resemble a tree, with all the leaves on the top of the stalk; at this point it may need the support of a stake. A spring crop of collards usually comes an end in the hot weather of summer, while a fall crop will produce well after frost. Frost actually makes the flavor of collards much sweeter.

Seed Saving: Allow the plant to flower and go to seed. The pods will look somewhat like small green beans. After the pods dry and the seeds inside are dark brown, remove them from the plant and dry them completely indoors. Clean off as much chaff as possible, then store the seeds in a cool, dry place.

FAST FACTS

Latin Name: Brassica oleracea

Type: Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Cool Season

USDA Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Seeds per Ounce: 8,000

Planting Method: From Transplant

Planting Depth: 0.5

Planting Spacing: 24

Row Spacing: 32

Days to Maturity: 55

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 30 Inches

Color: Green

Size Price Quantity
XL Mylar Packet (~500 Seeds) $3.96 Notify Me
1 Oz Mylar (~8,000 Seeds) $9.71 Notify Me
1/4 Lb Mylar (113g) $22.15 Notify Me
1 Lb Mylar (454g) $72.00 Notify Me
5 Lb Mylar (2.27kg) $324.00 Notify Me
10 Lb Mylar (4.54kg) $576.00 Notify Me
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DESCRIPTION

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These collards have a uniform, compact growth habit, with non-heading and slow-bolting plants. Their mild cabbage flavor makes these ideal greens for boiling, and they are good for canning and freezing as well. The large blue-green leaves are ready in 75 days and are also frost-resistant.
Collard, sometimes known as wild or non-heading cabbage, probably originated in Asia Minor and the Mediterranean region. Europe eventually became familiar with this vegetable, though historians disagree as to whether it was introduced there by the Romans or the Celts. Collard became a valuable part of the traditional cuisine of the American South through the slave trade, when the slaves began preparing this inexpensive vegetable with scraps of meat for flavoring. This unique vegetable has become a unique symbol of Southern culture and tradition. The Vates type of collard derives its name from an acronym for Virginia Truck Experiment Station, a research effort that was conducted from 1909-1960.

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: For a spring crop, direct sow the seeds 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost. For a fall crop, direct sow the seeds 6-8 weeks before the first fall frost. For smaller plants, plant a few seeds every 12" and1/4 deep; later remove all but the strongest plant. If you need bigger plants, space them 2' apart. For companion planting benefits, plant collards with tomatoes.

Growing: Water regularly, and provide compost or organic fertilizer several times in the summer. Collards tolerate heat very well.

Harvesting: Begin gathering leaves when the plant reaches 10-12" high; take the outer leaves first. Eventually your plant will begin to resemble a tree, with all the leaves on the top of the stalk; at this point it may need the support of a stake. A spring crop of collards usually comes an end in the hot weather of summer, while a fall crop will produce well after frost. Frost actually makes the flavor of collards much sweeter.

Seed Saving: Allow the plant to flower and go to seed. The pods will look somewhat like small green beans. After the pods dry and the seeds inside are dark brown, remove them from the plant and dry them completely indoors. Clean off as much chaff as possible, then store the seeds in a cool, dry place.

FAST FACTS

Latin Name: Brassica oleracea

Type: Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Cool Season

USDA Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Seeds per Ounce: 8,000

Planting Method: From Transplant

Planting Depth: 0.5

Planting Spacing: 24

Row Spacing: 32

Days to Maturity: 55

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 30 Inches

Color: Green