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Hands cupping a young collard plant with broad, veined leaves
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When to plant collards in Madras, OR

Start collards from seed indoors Mar 10–24, then plant the young plants in the garden in Madras Apr 21 – Jun 2. For a fall harvest, plant again Jul 26 – Aug 9.

Easy Plant young plants (starts)

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
18 to 24 inches apart
Planting depth
Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 60 days after planting

Why these dates

Madras's typical last spring frost is May 19. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

How to grow collards in Madras

  1. Start seeds indoors Mar 10–24 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden Apr 21 – Jun 2, 18 to 24 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Plant again Jul 26 – Aug 9 for a fall harvest.
  6. Harvest: Pick the lower leaves when they're about the size of your hand, and let the top keep growing. Leaves picked after a frost taste sweetest.

Key numbers

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Why collards suit Northwest winters

Collards are a loose-leaf member of the cabbage family, very close to kale. They're tougher than most of their cousins: established plants usually ride out freezes into the low teens, and cold weather turns some of the starch in the leaves to sugar, which is why winter collards taste milder and sweeter than summer ones.

West of the Cascades, a planting set out in midsummer gives leaves from fall right through to spring. East of the Cascades, hard winters can kill them, but fall harvests are still excellent.

Soil, feeding and picking

Like all leafy cabbage-family crops, collards want rich soil with plenty of nitrogen and a pH of about 6.0 to 7.5. Mix in compost before planting and side-dress with a balanced fertilizer a month later. Keep the soil evenly moist; stressed plants get tough, bitter leaves.

Pick from the bottom up, taking two or three leaves per plant at a time and leaving the growing tip alone. A well-fed plant keeps making new leaves for months.

Keeping pests off

The white cabbage butterfly lays eggs on the leaves, and the green caterpillars that hatch chew big holes. Aphids cluster under leaves in late summer. Insect netting or row cover laid over hoops from planting day is the simplest fix. Hand-pick any caterpillars you find, and knock aphids off with a strong spray of water.

Don't grow collards in the same spot as kale, cabbage or broccoli two years running. That breaks the cycle of clubroot and other soil diseases the family shares.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Madras, OR?

Typically May 19. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 7. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Madras.

Is it too late to plant collards in Madras?

The spring planting window runs through June 2. If you miss it, plant again for fall from July 26 to August 9.

When should I start collards from seed indoors in Madras?

March 10 to March 24, which is 6 to 4 weeks before the April 21 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

What's the difference between collards and kale?

They're the same species with different leaves. Collards have broad, flat, smooth leaves; most kales are curly or crinkled. Collards are a bit more heat-tolerant and slightly milder.

When do collards taste best?

After a few frosts. Cold makes the plant store sugar in its leaves, so fall and winter collards are noticeably sweeter.

Can I grow collards in summer?

Yes, they handle heat better than most cabbage-family greens. In hot eastern valleys, give them afternoon shade and steady water.

Also plant in Madras around the same time

Planting dates for collards in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Madras · Collards in every city