Collards: Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Kale: Brassica oleracea var. acephala and Brassica napus

Growing notes & Variety notes below

20180325 planted the last of the Georgia southern from Livingston in the south west border (also plan to plant corn & peanuts there, so .. we’ll see.)
20170909 Country Farm & Garden (Cover Crops: Fall 2017) Livingston Seed .Collards $ 1,69 georgia Southern. 70d

20170709 Still harvesting, usually a serving each day for lunch, all three locations. Hoping they will stay healthy well into the fall.
20170412 HARVEST leaves from collards in HK
2016-17 started seeds in cups, transplanted out to HK and to garden plot.
20160806-SE-201 Southern Exposure $37.65 Green Glaze Collards 2 g, 20160806-SE-201321 $2.75
79 days. [Introduced 1820 by David Landreth.] Old-fashioned and unique variety with smooth, bright green leaves. Heat- and frost-resistant, slow-bolting and non-heading. 30-34 in. tall. Excellent resistance to cabbage worm and cabbage looper. Recommended especially for Southern and warm coastal states. Thin out any dull-leaved off-type plants. Pkt (2 g).

General growing notes

All members of the cabbage family grow best on a rich, moist, well-drained loam of high fertility. Early varieties require a higher soil fertility than mid- or late-season varieties. Since members of the cabbage family are shallow-rooted, irrigation may be necessary to provide adequate moisture.

Early Crops: Use early varieties that will mature before heavy summer heat settles in, and start seed 4-6 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Sow seed 1/4 in. deep. Seedlings need a soil temperature of 75 degrees F, and strong, direct light. Soil temperature can be reduced to 60 degrees F once the seeds have germinated. Maintain good air circulation around plants during all growth stages. Harden plants before transplanting starting a month before last frost. When plants have become properly hardened they can stand a temperature as low as 20 degrees F without buttoning up. Space small head varieties 10-12 in. apart, large head varieties 16-18 in. apart.

Late Crops: For fall crops, either transplant to desired spacing when plants have 3 true leaves or direct sow 6-12 seeds/ft at a depth of 1/4 in. and thin as needed. Maintain adequate soil moisture during germination.

Diseases: Where fusarium yellows may be a problem in the Mid-Atlantic region, use resistant varieties. A number of other diseases may affect cabbage. To reduce disease problems, maintain good air circulation, practice good sanitation, and follow a 3-year crop rotation.
Insect Pests: Control cabbage worms and loopers with bT, flea beetles with spinosad, cutworms with paper cylinders around seedlings, and aphids with insecticidal soap. Introducing ladybugs helps control aphids in greenhouses, but they may "fly away home" when introduced into gardens.

CABBAGE Brassica oleracea var. capitata


COLLARDS Brassica oleracea var. acephala
...form of non-heading cabbage and are among the earliest forms of cultivated cabbage. ...exceptionally high in iron and in vitamins A and C. Collards are more heat-tolerant than cabbage and are usually winter-hardy from Virginia southward.

Harvest:
The taste is sweetened and enhanced by frosts and cool temperatures. Collards are best cooked, but young greens grown in cool weather are good in salads.
Clip individual leaves before they are 12 in. long. Old leaves become tough and stringy.

Diseases and Pests:
Cabbage worms can be controlled with bT. Pick harlequin bugs off spring-sown crops or start new crops in late summer.

Seed Savers: Collards will cross with broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and most kale. Isolate by 1/8 mile for home use. For pure seed of small plantings isolate by 1/4 to 1/2 mile.

Packet: 2 g unless otherwise stated (about 625 seeds) sows 55 ft. direct seeded or 230 ft. as transplants.





KALE Brassica oleracea var. acephala and Brassica napus

Kale is best grown as a spring, fall, or winter vegetable.

rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, iron and magnesium. This frost-hardy traditional crop can, with protection, provide winter greens even in the north. Flavor is best and disease problems are few when grown in cool weather. Plant in early spring for early greens, or in late summer for fall & winter harvest. Flavor of summer-sown kale improves after the first fall frost. Kale prefers full sun and fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Germination: 6-10 days. For spring sowings, start indoors 4 weeks before last frost or direct sow 1-2 weeks before last frost. For a fall/winter crop, sow 10 weeks before first hard frost. Sow 1/4" deep. Thin to 8-12" apart in rows 16-30" part. Use thick mulch & irrigate to maintain moisture during hot weather.

Pests: Kale has fewer pests than other brassicas. Use floating row cover to reduce insect damage to young plants. Practice a four-year rotation for all brassica crops to reduce disease and pests.

Harvest: Collect young leaves anytime. Clip oldest leaves when less than 12" long for tender leaves and best flavor.

Seed Savers: Brassica napus crosses with rutabaga and some rapeseed (canola). Brassica oleracea crosses with broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, and kohlrabi.