eat yo' collard greens

If you are a southerner and have a garden, but don’t grow collard greens, are you even southern at all? The plants are grown for their large, dark-colored, edible leaves and as a garden ornamental, mainly in Brazil, Portugal, the southern United States, many parts of Africa, the Balkans, northern Spain, and Kashmir. Collard greens have been eaten for at least 2000 years, with evidence showing that the ancient Greeks cultivated several types of collard, as well as the related kale.

Collards are loose-leafed and easy to grow, loving our cold weather in the winter. Plant in full to part sun, with in enriched garden soil. Start from seed as early as August indoors and plant out in the fall. Individual plants are long-lasting, and you can pick off the outer leaves as they grow, much like kale. They love cold weather, and benefit from occasional feedings of organic plant food. Plants may trunk-up like certain varieties of kale do, making prehistoric-looking palm trees!

Tree Collards are a highly productive perennial Brassica, producing delicious blue-green, or purple leaves which taste similar to kale. Like most brassicas, Tree Collards are especially sweet during the cooler months of the year. Although their actual origin is unknown, it is believed that they come from Africa, and have been propagated and passed on within African American communities in this country.

Tree collards can grow up to 10 feet or more, but they're easily maintained as a 4-foot plant.