Collard greens are a popular leafy vegetable known for their hardiness in the garden. While the mature, dark green leaves are familiar, the small seeds that hold the potential for a new crop are often a mystery to new gardeners.
Understanding the appearance and origin of the seed is the first step in successfully growing this nutritious biennial plant. This article explores the specific characteristics of the seed, how it is produced, and the initial process for planting it.
The Physical Appearance of Collard Seeds
Collard seeds are characteristically small and dark. They share a similar appearance with seeds from other members of the cabbage family, such as broccoli and kale. An average collard seed is very small, typically measuring only one to two millimeters in diameter, making them easy to handle in bulk but difficult to manage individually.
Their shape is generally spheroid or slightly rounded, and the surface often possesses a slightly textured or fine-pitted pattern. The coloration is consistently dark, ranging from a deep reddish-brown to a near-black hue. The small size is further illustrated by the fact that a single gram of collard seed can contain nearly 300 individual seeds.
How Collard Seeds Form on the Plant
Collard greens are biennials, meaning they typically flower and produce seeds in their second year of growth after a period of cold weather, a process called bolting. When the plant bolts, it sends up a tall, sturdy flower stalk instead of continuing to produce large edible leaves. This stalk is topped with numerous small flowers.
Once the flowers are pollinated, they wither and are replaced by narrow, elongated green structures called siliques, or seed pods. These pods contain the developing seeds within two compartments.
The seeds mature inside the siliques, which gradually dry out on the plant, changing color from green to a straw-yellow or tan and becoming brittle. The seeds are ready for collection once the pods are completely dry and hard, as they will easily shatter to release the mature, dark seeds.
Practical Steps for Planting Collard Seeds
Planting collard seeds successfully depends on timing and proper soil preparation, as they are a cool-season crop. The ideal times for sowing are in the early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, or in the mid-to-late summer for a fall and winter harvest.
The small seeds should be sown at a shallow depth, generally a quarter to a half-inch deep, and never deeper than one inch. They require fertile, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter to support the growth of the large leaves.
Seeds can be direct-sown into the garden or started indoors several weeks before the desired outdoor planting date. Consistent moisture is required for germination, which typically occurs within five to ten days under optimal soil temperatures.