Everything You Need To Know About Michigan Tree Collards

In this video, you will learn everything you need to know about Michigan Tree Collards. You will get to see what they look like planted in the garden and to hear about its growth habit and what you can expect. This video will help you understand whether a Michigan Tree Collard is a good plant for your garden, how much space it needs, how to plant it, and where to plant it.
Ken Asmus of Oikos Tree Crops in Michigan purchased seeds of Purple Tree Collards from Project Tree Collard. Five years later, after much observation and selection of his seedlings, he shared clones of “Michigan Tree Collard” with Project Tree Collard. His Michigan Tree Collard plants have been outdoors for the last 5 years in USDA zone 5-6, and have survived temperatures to 0 F. Michigan Tree Collard is a beautiful and vigorous, silver-green tree collard that has purple hues on the stems, especially in the cool season. Flavor is similar to other tree collard plants.
Ken also shared that this plant may be tolerant of even colder winter temperatures than zero, and even if it appears to have died above ground, it re sprouts from below the soil line once the growing season resumes. Some have hardy enough stems to stay green and sprout slightly above the ground.
In Michigan, Ken's Michigan Tree Collards grow up to 6 feet tall, and if given fertile, well-drained soil with regular water can reach 3-4 feet high in one year. Our California plants are 2 1/2 years old, which is too young to determine a mature height. So far, they easily reach 4 feet. Leaves can get up to 1 foot long (especially in part shade) and are a silvery blue-green color with blushing purple stems in the cool season.
Since this is a newly available plant for gardeners, we are unsure how it performs in warm, tropical climates such as Florida and Hawaii. In the last year it has thrived in the SF Bay Area in zone 10A, and Grass Valley, CA in zone 9A. They are not phased by 113 degree summer heat waves in California.
In windy areas, Michigan Tree Collards are best tied to a sturdy metal or wooden stake as it can be semi-fragile in wet conditions and high winds.
Tree collards (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) are members of the brassica family. They are also known as Tree Kale or Tree Cabbage. Their relatives include traditional collards, kale, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and cauliflower. However, unlike most of its relatives, tree collards are perennial. This means that, like a fruit tree or rose bush, they will continue to grow and produce year after year and without the need for planting new seeds or seedlings every year like traditional collards and kale. Tree collards are hardy to about 20° F (-7° c) and in mild climates have been known to live for up to twenty years! They are closely related to other perennial collard varieties grown in Mediterranean, Africa, the Americas, and other countries.
You can find Project Tree Collard at: www.projecttreecollard.org
Instagram at: / projecttreecollard
Facebook at: / projecttreecollard

[@meanqkie2240]

I ordered three cuttings a few months back. I left them in water longer than I meant to, but they forgave me! I save my 2lb Mylar coffee bean bags, poked drainage holes in bottom and planted them in BHG organic potting soil (comes in the black bag). Followed the planting/rooting recommendations and they are happy! Son found a clear plastic dome from a discarded display at his job and brought it to me. I sat all three bags in a bucket sized pot and cover them with the dome/cloche against frost till they are established and in the ground. Remove it for warm days and for weeks with no frost in forecast. They have small purple happy growth, about an inch long fat heart leaves. So pleased to have them! Thank you! SW Oklahoma

[@projecttreecollard]

so good to hear!

[@user-px7nh7vs4b]

Thank you so much. My purple tree collards are doing better since it has cooled off and since I moved them to a location with more shade. I live in Zone 8b, deep east Texas where spring through early fall is hot and humid. Full sun is just not an option for not only PTC but for most plants (and people.) As you develop new plants please keep us in mind. It's a struggle here but I, for one, am determined to have a big patch of perennial collards. Thank you!

[@projecttreecollard]

thx for sharing!

[@frankiebanks]

Beautiful plant! Beautiful woman! Beautiful mission!

[@projecttreecollard]

Thanks FrankieBanks!

[@TABULOUS1]

You seem to have a lot on your mind. Sending Energies of Peace, Sustainability & Wellness. 💜👩🏽‍🌾💜

[@Appophust]

Seriously considering getting a few this year. Southwest Missouri is a weird place to grow. Especially in the Glades in the Ozarks Plateau/Ozark Highlands.

[@leomiranda-castro6908]

Sequoiah, Thank you for your great fast high quality service and collards! Looking forward to learn more!!

[@projecttreecollard]

thanks! shipping your order soon!

[@moneelovesglam6868]

I just ordered my seeds. I'm so excited. Collards are my favorite greens to cook.

[@projecttreecollard]

wonderful!

[@wandasinger7713]

Sending love from California. I purchased a few tree collards from you before Covid. My purple tree collard is over eight feet tall. Can I cut the top off? I would love to cut it back to five feet tall. My tree collard’s produce so many greens, it’s crazy. Thank you 🙏

[@projecttreecollard]

yes. if its not a heatwave you can go ahead and cut the top off:) Have you seen my tree collard pruning videos?

[@TellingStewart]

🌱 Excellent Information.. ThankYou for Sharing such Encouraging Wisdom 🌿🌼🙏🍃

[@projecttreecollard]

Thanks so much!

[@gregzeigler3850]

I sent off for your seeds. I'm in Ohio and summers here can be hot and humid, 80-90's and pretty cold winters. I'm working on having as many perennial vegetables as possible. Last year, I planted seed for Dietrich's Wild Broccoli and it grows like a weed. It is in flower this year and will self seed itself. Will also be planting Korean Wild Celery, Turkish Rocket and Good King Henry. Hope it all does well, as that's a lot of good eating :)

[@projecttreecollard]

sounds like lots of fun!

[@sunboyd1725]

Very cool. I also live in Ohio and into pre annual vegetable garden. If you live near Cleveland I have lot of Korean celery I’ll be glad to share some.

[@talesfromthecoop]

Mine are growing like crazy, thank you [Oisian]

[@projecttreecollard]

good to hear!

[@brenmichael1806]

Hi I'm Brenda from Michigan Thank you so much for this video. I will be ordering these Michigan tree collards. My question to you should I ordered the seeds or best to order the plant?

[@projecttreecollard]

I think its better to order the seeds because you can grow quite a few of them and potentially find some different varieties that do well in your exact conditions. You can seed them in the next month or so probably...whenever you would start other brassica seeds

[@dfreak01]

My neighbor gave me a tree kale in a pot. It's about a foot tall. He said to keep it inside until spring. I'm zone 8. It's getting yellow. I tend to kill houseplants so I'm afraid for it. I have a coldframe that's tall enough for it and we're past the latest cold snap. Should I stick it in there? Would I need to harden it off on the patio 1st? 🤷

[@projecttreecollard]

hard for me to say when I don't know what kind of tree collard it is. Usually they are hardy outdoors in zone 8 in the ground, so maybe you can plan for that outdoor planting in the spring after the coldest temperatures have passed. They are HARD to keep as houseplants so I would put it outside as soon as temperatures allow...and maybe use the coldframe.

[@kimfruin225]

Hi I love this video! How can I get some Michigan purple tree collard plants? I am in zone 5/6?

[@projecttreecollard]

www.projecttreecollard.org We only have plants for a short while longer. Then we will have them back around June or July. Seeds are also available

[@joio2094]

I want to buy some of your tree collards but I don’t know which one to buy. I like mild collards. I don’t like kale. So which one is your mildest flavor? Thank you for your videos

[@projecttreecollard]

Jolly Green is the mildest in my opinion. Also, the Purple Tree Collards are quite sweet, especially in the cool season and have a somewhat nutty flavor

[@LorrayneHam]

How do I get some of these Tree Collards..? I live in the Blue Ridge mountains in zone 6. Would love some of these to grow. I see you are in Grass Valley, I went to grass valley high school.

[@projecttreecollard]

Hi! we have seeds and cuttings right now at www.projecttreecollard.org. Will have rooted plants in a few weeks

[@henrib735]

Hello: Are Michigan Tree Collards bothered by cabbage moths or other pests? Also, I am in zone 6A. When is the best time for me to plant Michigan Tree Collard cuttings?

[@projecttreecollard]

@@henrib735 they can get bothered by any pests that frequent Brassicas. If you don't have a greenhouse it is best for you to root cuttings in late spring/early summer

[@andicandie65]

How can my tree collards recover after a freeze? The leaves have turned yellow but the stalk and limbs are intact.

[@projecttreecollard]

Sorry for the delayed reply....but most plants that get freeze damaged should NOT get cut back until the temperatures have warmed up and there's hopefully no more chance of freezing. I know they may look unsightly, but that's the best thing for the plants

[@andicandie65]

@@projecttreecollard Thank you so much.

[@beverlykersey164]

How to prepare for winter with Georgia collard greens in central Indiana, snow and subzero temps. I have the in larger containers...... Thanks

[@projecttreecollard]

I specialize in perennial collards only, so I don't know.

[@tammyreyers1119]

I bought a Michigan tree collard and when it arrived it was completely covered in seed pods not a single leaf was left on it. The company I bought it from said this was normal but everything I read about tree collards suggests that they will die after going to seed or have a shorter life cycle, what are your thought about this?

[@projecttreecollard]

I don't send Michigan Plants with seed pods or flowers. However, the plant you purchased will be fine if you cut it back. I have another video for that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4q7cmp4l62qbbM

[@tammyreyers1119]

@@projecttreecollard thank you! Does it matter that the plant is covered in seed pods and not a single green leaf is on the plant? I feel like I was duped 😞I do have a choice to return it or keep it.

[@jameshavenhomestead6055]

I was just sent the same, is yours from PJ? I was trying to figure what I should do with it as well

[@tammyreyers1119]

@@jameshavenhomestead6055 yes 😞it looks sad. They told me to wait a few weeks because it will begin to grow leaves again however my concern is that if I wait too long for leaves to come back then it will be too late for a refund. In addition it has been close to A few weeks and I do not see any growth activity at all. From my understanding these plants rarely go to seed and if they do it’s toward the end of the life cycle, When you pay that much for a plant, I think they should send you a young plant because these are short term perennials anyway. So if this plant has a five-year lifecycle and they are sending an old plant then the benefits of having a perennial wouldn’t be much it’s at the end of the cycle. The other reason they go to seed early is if they were stressed. They wouldn’t return my calls until I put a hold on the credit card then I got a call back and only then after I put the payment on hold. I did get talked into waiting a few weeks and I regret it because I don’t think it’s gonna do anything. But after much research, they definitely don’t seed often and usually at the end of the life cycle or when under stress so they either sent us an old plant or a stress plant or either way, not much of a bargain.

[@anthonyhull3539]

Can I find them in Tennessee?

[@projecttreecollard]

Very few people sell tree collards in the US.

[@wemuk5170]

👍👍👍

[@anthonyhull3539]

how do you eat them?

[@projecttreecollard]

the same as any regular collards, kale, or swiss chard

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