Growing Tree Collards In Hot Climates

Sequoiah ‪@projecttreecollard‬ leads you through how to successfully grow tree collards in hot climates. Tree Collards, thought to originate from Africa, are naturally adapted to drought and heat. With wild temperature swings in modern times, there are a few things to consider doing to help your tree collards thrive in extreme climates.
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.
Tree collards are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in a home garden. For very little input they can provide an abundance of greens all year round. A fast growing relative of collards and kale, some varieties can grow up to eight feet in height in a few years.
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[@busker153]

I am growing my own shade cloth; Moringa Trees! LOL I am totally lovin' it!

[@projecttreecollard]

so cool

[@Perseverance4477]

Great info thanks!

[@livefromplanetearth]

🙏🏾

[@danisamatebesi2922]

Hie, I am in Zimbabwe. The tree collards are a very common and popular vegetable in my country. It's good to watch your videos and the perspectives you have, of this amazing vegetable. Thanks for the insights.

[@projecttreecollard]

Thanks for saying hello and reaching out! I don't hear often from people in Africa on KZbin but I know they are a staple food in many African countries:)

[@sunnydayz4040]

Hi I'm in central FL (near Tampa), I got my purple tree collards from you over 1 yr ago and they've survived the worst of our summer (they are about 3 ft tall now & I just topped them to make them bushier). I expect better performance (more harvest) over our winter but they have been great. I keep on the north side of my home but not incredibly shady spot. Thanks for all your great info.

[@projecttreecollard]

wonderful! I love hearing how they do in the humid climates. Thanks!

[@calebvotauthail9809]

I'm in Tampa. Are they in pots or the ground?

[@projecttreecollard]

@@calebvotauthail9809 the Big Blue Plants are in a Hugelmound, which is like being in the ground. You can grow them in large pots if you don't have any in-ground garden space.

[@ladrenathomas53]

How is your purple Tree collards doing now?

[@VitaliKononov]

I wonder if you get comments about your way of moving around in the garden. how comfortable you are changing levels and getting close to the ground. looks so natural

[@projecttreecollard]

No comments on that until now:)

[@josanders1428]

What area are you at now. Where you grow them in the shade? I love them. Will they grow in pots?

[@projecttreecollard]

grass valley, CA. They will grow in a LARGE pot

[@busker153]

I have a Big Blue Tree Collard growing in my front yard right now, and I live in Tucson, AZ where hot and dry are the norm. I have it growing a foot west of a north-south running chain link fence that is absolutely covered with sweet potato leaves! The little sprout does not get any direct sun until around noon, and only for half an hour or less before the eaves from the front of (the north side of) my house put it right back into the shade for the rest of the day! It seems to be really enjoying itself there, so I planted some Dinosaur Tree Collard seeds across the front walkway from it, figuring a couple of Collard Sentinels would be just the thing! We have now had three cool mornings in a row (68*F -- 72*F), so perhaps winter is coming?

[@projecttreecollard]

sounds good!!!!

[@sovereignsoul]

Thanks for the tips. I am in north central Florida (9a) and was considering whether or not to plant my seedlings tree collards in partial shade. Many plants that are said to require full sun do not thrive or survive in Florida full sun, even in zone 9a. In a forest setting, I plant less sun tolerant perrenials in areas that receive partial shade during the summer, as with the onset of winter the surrounding trees lose their leaves and provide tolerable full sun to these plants during the less harsh sunlight of winter. My land is mostly a pine and oak forest, with a few clearings where trees died natural deaths (other than 2 small oaks to grow shiitake mushrooms) which receive full sun. There is a 1-3 inch mycorrhiza carpet. To plant potted nursery plants I cut away the mycorrhiza in a 6-12 inch circle, insert the potting soil, and mulch with wood chips to fertilize ("Back to Eden" style) and to encourage mycorrhiza to regrow where mycorrhiza was removed. I use a blend of soil high in organic matter in the planting hole to help prevent damage by root knot nematodes prevalent in the top 6 inches of Florida's sandy soil. This typically works very well in my growing conditions. Above ground pest pressure in Florida id difficult, but varieties of insects comes in waves at different times of the year. Vigilant insect removal, organic pest control deterrents, selecting plant varieties that aren't destroyed by pest pressure, and planting seedlings at times when pest pressure is less prevalent, are a few techniques that help negate pest pressure. Iimportantly, cutworms in my area prevent direct seeding and planting seedlings with stems less than 1/8 inch in diameter. These tips will hopefully help central Florida growers.

[@projecttreecollard]

yes...our summers are up to 115 degrees in the summer and part shade really helps them thrive

[@sovereignsoul]

115 degrees? Then share some tips for human survival.

[@projecttreecollard]

@@sovereignsoul well, dry heat is much cooler than central FL!

[@Cydneysworld]

Nashville,TN zone 7a...i purchased Merritt and Michigan from you a few months ago and they are doing great. They are in two locations in my backyard. I planted some seeds in my collard bed with georgia collards and cant tell them apart yet!! 😂 So then i decided to make a tree collard bed where i will eventually purchase jolly green and big blue ❤🎉

[@projecttreecollard]

yay!

[@shannonstoney1]

In TN, the Michigan tree collards do get downy mildew in late summer. I just take the affected leaves off. It does get pretty hot here for a few days every summer. I use shade cloth over brassicas when it gets intense. They also get harlequin bugs, but it's easy to pick them off by hand.

[@Exodus239]

Hi! I bought purple tree collards from you before and they were awesome until the gopher got them. Plan to order some kind of tree collards from you soon.. but in the process of looking came across this and was utterly delighted as I’m in Fresno with what sounds like a similar climate. Additionally, am growing a young food Forest snd growing in permaculture so just tickled to find you here. That said… do your tree collard seeds germinate pretty well?

[@projecttreecollard]

yes... many people say 95-100 percent germination but others have a harder time

[@calebvotauthail9809]

She has such a nice personailty 🤙🏼

[@projecttreecollard]

Thank you:)

[@Anythingforfreedom]

I have some that I planted (florida) that are growing very slowly. The soil is very sandy and high in horse manure. I have no idea if they want more water, or some phosphorus??

[@projecttreecollard]

It is impossible for me to say. Often it is a lack of nitrogen. Depending on the source of the horse manure and age, it could also cause some issues...

[@Paula_T]

Hot, dry, and windy (and now choking smoke) here north of Reno. My annual kales and other brassicas are alive but look terrible. Aphids all spring and early summer followed by caterpillars..... The usual. The tree collards on the other hand have had much less insect damage and are beginning to recover sooner now that the temps have dropped about 30 degrees. All mine are in full sun at 5400' with little burning. After this awful season, I'm thinking I'm going to grow EVERYTHING under shade cloth going forward. This will be their first winter outside but my annual kales do survive so I'm confident these will too. I have your Merrit and Purple in ground, and aTaunton Dean and another cold hardy from Planting Justice just getting started.

[@projecttreecollard]

yes....I HIGHLY urge you to use shade cloth over the whole garden. My tomatoes and peppers also would have benefitted greatly from that. It really helps cool the plants alot, and of course lots of mulch!

[@ladrenathomas53]

Hello, I am in Jacksonville Florida and my purple tree collards isn’t doing well I’m not sure if it’s because of it is hot but they are in shade

[@bill.Latham]

Hello, I really respect all your knowledge on tree collars. My question is should tree collars be planted in on a mound, or in a valley, or on flat ground for watering purposes. The reason I ask the questions is because here in Southern Ca it get extremely hot? Thank You

[@projecttreecollard]

Not a simple question...its more about your soil quality, composition, and watering methods. Its often 110 here in summer but if I planted in valleys, they would rot and die in my heavy clay soil. I either plant at soil level after I add compost, or I plant in Hugelmounds.

[@bill.Latham]

Thank You@@projecttreecollard

[@trish3580]

When should I plant the seeds - and which ones - I'm in BC Canada zone 8 (not to far from Victoria) and can't purchase the cuttings due to border issues. I've been wanting to grow these collards for years - a friend gave me a few seeds I planted in summer in a container but they never made it - planted about a month ago and they were hit by unexpected heat a couple of times.

[@projecttreecollard]

now might be too late. next spring when you start seeds for other brassicas or greens is a good time. I do ship seeds to Canada. www.projecttreecollard.org

[@ZaatarGardens]

The Jolly Green and Purple Tree did AMAZING in the heat, Merrit did okay, Big Blue looks like it didn’t make it

[@projecttreecollard]

good to know! I didn't loose any Big Blues but the ones in full sun got attacked by insects. Not fun!

[@user-px7nh7vs4b]

Thank you. Here in east Texas I would not dare trying to grow them in full sun.

[@projecttreecollard]

yep!

[@laruebrough4117]

How long do you need to keep it in a pot before you plant it directly into the ground? How well does it do in the cold? Here in Southern Utah we do get freezing temperatures .

[@projecttreecollard]

once your plants are 2-4 inches tall, they can go in the ground. The most cold hardy tree collard is Michigan Tree Collard, down to zone 5. You may need winter protection for the other varieties. I don't know what USDA zone you are in

[@laruebrough4117]

I’m in zone 8

[@projecttreecollard]

@@laruebrough4117 you can grow any of the varieties then

[@laruebrough4117]

I would like to try a few varieties.

[@melstark3466]

Unfortunately the starts I purchased from you at the beginning of summer never took off. I’m hoping to get some from you next year and hopefully they will work better. Side note: turn the gain down on your audio recorder and readjust your mic to remove the distracting distortion that ends up in your recordings. It is distracting.

[@projecttreecollard]

had some tech issues. Figured it was better to just put it out instead of never posting it.

[@melstark3466]

@@projecttreecollard Yeah, sorry. I teach audio production, so it was something I just noticed and wanted to mention to you. Thank you for these informative videos. They are appreciated. :-)

[@Becauseimme]

My wife is Mexican and she makes better greens than my Moma, and without swine.