For many gardeners, the onset of fall and winter is a time to complete the harvest, clean up a bit, and prepare to wait out the colder months. Some may wonder, are there vegetables you can grow in your GreenStalk that will extend your gardening season into the winter? As with all things gardening, the answer is: it depends. If you live in USDA Zones 7-10, collards and kale—both of which tolerate frost and cold—can often continue to be harvested well into winter. In regions with relatively mild winters, gardeners may harvest collards and kale all through winter and even into spring. If you have established plants of either of these two members of the Brassica family in your GreenStalk by late fall, and you're in the right zone, you may still have harvesting ahead of you!
Planning Ahead
Collards and kale are crops typically grown for spring, fall, and winter harvests. They don’t thrive in the heat of summer. To harvest these crops through the winter months, you must have established plants in your GreenStalk by late fall. This means either direct sowing seeds or planting starter plants from a nursery in late summer or early fall. A good rule of thumb is to plant seeds 10 to 12 weeks before your area's first frost date. Keep in mind that what constitutes late summer or early fall can vary depending on your zone. If you're unsure, check with knowledgeable staff at a local gardening center, your local extension service, or almanac.com for more precise planting dates.
Kale is a cold-tolerant plant that thrives in cooler seasons.
Like most members of the Brassica family, collards and kale are cool-weather crops. The flavor of both improves with cold weather! At the first frost, the plants begin to convert starches stored in the leaves into sugars, making both taste sweeter. For this reason, many people won’t eat collards until they’ve been through at least one frost. Kale can withstand temperatures from 25 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 to -4°C), while collards can tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6°C).
Plant Varieties
Popular varieties of collards include two well-known heirlooms: Vates and Georgia Southern. Both varieties can produce large leaves that grow up to 2-3 feet tall. However, they are more tender if harvested early, typically when the leaves are 6 to 10 inches in length. Another excellent variety is Champion. Regardless of which variety you select, collards are harvested by cutting the larger, outer leaves from the plant, taking care not to damage the central stalk. The smaller inner leaves will continue to grow, and the plant will produce more over time.
There is a wide range of kale varieties to choose from! Red Russian, Dinosaur (also known as Lacinato), Dwarf Blue Curled, and Winterbor are well-known and cold-tolerant varieties. Most kale plants, except for the dwarf varieties, grow leaves up to 24 inches in length. Like collards, kale is generally harvested before it reaches full maturity. To harvest kale, simply cut the larger outer leaves from the plant, leaving the smaller inner leaves to continue growing. As with collards, the plant will keep producing new leaves.
Collard greens are delicious when steamed, sauteéd, or added to soups, salads, or stews.
Protection From the Cold
Protecting your plants from extreme cold is essential if you want to keep them producing through the winter months. First, if possible, try to place your GreenStalk where it will receive some direct sunlight during the day, but not be continuously exposed to cold winds. When temperatures do drop into the low 20s or below, place your planter against a protected wall or cover it with a GreenStalk Frost Protection Cover that can provide approximately 8 degrees of protection against the cold for brief spells. If available, you can also move your GreenStalk into a protected area, such as a garage. If you can prevent the plants from freezing, you can move them back outside once temperatures improve.
Don’t Forget to Water!
It is also important to keep an eye on the moisture levels in the soil. During fall and winter, it’s easy to forget about watering due to the cooler temperatures. However, dry periods do occur in winter, and you should check weekly to ensure there is adequate moisture in your GreenStalk. If the soil is getting dry, you will need to water to keep your plants healthy.
With a little effort, collards and kale can continue to produce well after most of your other vegetables have finished for the year. And it’s always a joy to pick fresh vegetables from the garden. Happy gardening!
