DIY Network

Collard Greens Collard Greens From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-117

Here, learn the secrets to successfully planting and growing collard greens....

advertisement

	When all of the collard seeds are planted, place row markers at each variety.
	A strong jet of water could blow away the small seeds. Wave the mist attachment over the bed several times until all of the soil is moist.
	To speed up germination, cover the bed with a plastic row cover, which can heat the soil up to 10 degrees hotter than without the cover.

• Planting Collard greens: since collards seeds are small like other "greens" seeds, use the same index card technique you used with the other seeds. Working with very small seeds sometimes they get clumped together. Disease tends to spread quickly if plants are crowded and touching, it's also easier for pests to settle into a bed if it's crowded and difficult for you to see them.

• When all of the seeds are planted, place row markers at each variety. Use a hose with a mist attachment to water the bed. The soil around the new "greens" seeds needs to be moist but you have to be careful when you water them. A strong jet of water could blow away the small seeds. Wave the mist attachment over the bed several times until all of the soil is moist. Stop watering before the rows start to erode.

• To speed up the germination process, cover the bed with a plastic row cover. It can heat the soil up to 10 degrees hotter than without the cover. Greens need a soil temperature of around 50 to sprout. Install metal hoops every foot or so to hold up the row cover. The arched shape will help to capture more sunlight. They also make it taller than just putting the cover flat across the bed. This way the plants can get taller and grow longer under the cover. Place a soaker hose in the bed so you don't have to raise the plastic every time you need to water.

• Once I had all of the metal hoops in place, cover the bed with the plastic cover. Start at one end of the bed and use yard staples to hold the excess plastic in place. Cover all of the hoops, pulling the plastic tight over the bed. At the other end, secure the plastic again with the yard staples.

• Many gardeners use plastic to heat up the soil in their garden. If you use black plastic be sure to water the soil well before covering it. The water helps the soil hold heat.