Growing Collards, also Collard greens, Borekale

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
      T                
      P P              

(Best months for growing Collards in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 50 cm apart
  • Harvest in 8-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chili, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Your comments and tips

02 Dec 10, TB (Australia - temperate climate)
No, curly kale is a vegetable. I think it would be hard to mistake ornamental kale seedlings for edible kale, not least because they would be found in different sections of the garden centre! There are a number of different kinds of edible kale, more often sold as seed than as seedlings, and not that often seen at mainstream nurseries/seed suppliers.
28 Feb 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
I can't find collards anywhere in Melbourne, Victoria. We have three varieties of kale available; the dinasour, curly leaf variety and a small purple kind but no kale and sellers have no idea what I am talking about. I just came from living in Canada and the USA where it's available everywhere. Any help pls?
07 Mar 11, Dianne (Australia - temperate climate)
Collard seeds are available from Eden Seeds if you want to grow them.
03 Aug 11, (Australia - tropical climate)
i see the seed packets everywhere in garden centres at kmart, big w, bunnings etc they are quite in fashion to grow at the moment along with purple carrots!
12 Apr 11, Neville (Australia - temperate climate)
Can you please tell me how or where I might buy some collard seeds to grow the plant. Thank you for any help you can give me. Kind regards, Neville
12 Apr 11, Ronnie (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I would like to grow collards or collard greens. Where can I find seed or seedlings please. Are they the same as silverbeet or does silverbeet have the same or similar levels of Vitamin A?
28 Feb 17, Linda (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hey there, you can buy the seeds online.
08 Apr 18, Paul (New Zealand - temperate climate)
But whereabouts online? I have yet to find it available online in NZ and importing it from overseas is likely to run foul of our immigration laws.
18 Apr 18, Barry (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Paul The Koanga Institute have seeds available they call it the Dalmatian cabbage. I think i have seen it advertised in either the Egmont seeds catalogue or the Kings seeds catalogue. All three have on line catalogues. Collards are a type of Brassica. Regards Barry
17 Jan 19, Alan Jorgensen (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, you can try Kings Seeds in Kati Kati Bay of plenty they have a mail order system. Good luck.
Showing 31 - 40 of 101 comments

Omera, you might want to get amaranth seeds, which according to wikipedia is used in callaloo. Eden Seeds sell amaranth by through their online shop in Australia.

- Chris

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