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 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 20 inches 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

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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
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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
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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?
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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!
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07 Mar 11, Dianne (Australia - temperate climate)
Collard seeds are available from Eden Seeds if you want to grow them.
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13 Nov 10, Barb (Australia - temperate climate)
I am new to all this. What are collard greens?
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14 Nov 10, Sri (Australia - temperate climate)
Collard is commonly known as kale and they come from the brassica family which is cabbage,broccoli,brussel sprouts etc... Most kale is ornamental and not for eating but i have seen the edible type sold in punnets at nurseries but i have to say i have not seen them for a long time.
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29 Nov 10, Marina (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
"Most kale is ornamental and not for eating but i have seen the edible type sold in punnets at nurseries but i have to say i have not seen them for a long time." Is this true? Ornamental? I've got curly leafed Kale and I use it in my green smoothies. Should I be worried?
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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.
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02 Dec 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Ornamental kales are quite safe, but don't taste as nice as the culinary types. Curly leafed kale is a culinary variety and tastes fine. I got seeds from Eden seeds.
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Showing 71 - 80 of 106 comments
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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.

- TB

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