How To Prune Merritt Tree Collards

Project Tree Collard shows you how you can prune a Merritt Tree Collard to create and encourage side branching AND propagate a new plant from the cutting. Merritt Tree Collards can grow very tall and spindly but they can be kept shorter and more dense, boosting productivity, and making it easier to harvest the leaves. If left unpruned, Merritt Tree Collards can reach up to 12 feet tall and may become so top heavy that they could fall over. Merritt Tree Collards are an unusual perennial vegetable in the broccoli family that can live up to 20 years in mild 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 very nutritious. They are high in Vitamins B1, B2, B9, C, and beta-Carotene and are also a great source of fiber.
You can find Project Tree Collard at: www.projecttreecollard.org
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[@LSinclair]

Incredibly helpful, thank you!!!

[@projecttreecollard]

i'm so glad

[@lpdaddyo]

Thank you, great video.

[@bill.Latham]

Great video on how to prune tree collars because my tree collars are so tall and I did'nt know how to prune them so that they will be more of a bush. Thank You

[@TheTaoofEternalWar]

Talk about falling in love with a plant. Kale was my first love, then beans and okra. Now I dream of Lamb's Quarters and Amaranth on a regular basis. I'm into weeds, because I'm lazy.

[@busker153]

I am so eager for my seeds to start growing (planted a couple hours ago! LOL) so I can start doing all the cool things I have seen you doing with these wonderful plants!

[@projecttreecollard]

lol! patience my friend;)

[@busker153]

@@projecttreecollard I hear ya there! I have a lot of other things here to keep my attention. I have Sunshine Blue and Pink Lemonade Blueberry Bushes, 4 Fig trees, and over 50 Moringa Trees, as well as peppers, veggies, and projects. Ah, the projects! LOL I am truly grateful to have found your KZbin Channel, and am delighted to be adding your Purple, Dinosaur, Jolly Green, and Big Blue seeds going as soon as possible. Like I said, I have the 4 solo cups just to get one of each growing, but I have 4 holes dug to receive Moringa transplants from the front yard tomorrow, and I think, after they settle in, that they would be excellent locations for my next planting! Well, I have the seeds, so I am binging your channel to get all the information I can.

[@paulysdowntoearthgardens2512]

Awesome keep bringing the videos Thank you for your content. 🙋🙋

[@projecttreecollard]

thanks for the support and encouragement:)

[@barb8452]

Love you how you explain in detail

[@projecttreecollard]

thanks!

[@itsjustmetomc4848]

Thank you for this video! I was just wondering about how to prune my tree collards I planted last season and they look to be about the same size as the one in this video! Woot Woot! The Merritt (green) ones I got from you last year are the only ones that survived the summer here AND I have been able to eat almost daily! I just love them, better tasting then kale and go well with my beet greens, baby bok choy and swiss chard.

[@projecttreecollard]

awesome! Glad it was timely:)

[@wandasinger7713]

Love your videos. My tree collards I purchased from you are doing awesome. I do need to cut the tops off they’re getting too tall. I’m going to wait until our weather cool down, it’s 104. Thank you for your knowledge. Blessings to you and your family 🙏🏾

[@deborahthompson5041]

Thank you I learned a lot. I have purple tree collards will this method work for them?

[@projecttreecollard]

Yes. here's the video link for that specifically: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3jIeI2qlLdgsMk

[@EricaEteson]

Does this apply to all types of tree collard or only Merritt?

[@projecttreecollard]

all types but is most applicable to tree collards that have one central trunk.

[@joycecooper498]

What is the best fertilizer to use on the Merritt tree collards? What about fish emulsion fertilizer? Did you plant the propagated collard in compost or gardening soil?

[@projecttreecollard]

fish emulsion is good. I like to use a variety of fertilizers to cover more of my bases. But I am a BIG believer in SOIL TESTING in a lab. That way you find out what your soil needs, and doesn't need. You don't want to waste money on fertilizers that could actually cause a problem for your plants. For the propagated collard cuttings, I always use a HIGH quality, natural potting soil. Compost is too rich and garden soil doesn't drain well enough.

[@joycecooper498]

Is it impossible to propagate the Merritt collard if there are no branches only leaves? Or would I just cut the thick trunk of the Merritt in half to propagate it?

[@projecttreecollard]

@@joycecooper498 you need a branch or top of the Merritt Tree Collard. Leaves don't make a new plant. Watch the video I made: How to Propagate Tree Collards. It will help you understand

[@MasterCoachUniversity]

What happens when you top it HOT?

[@Gods_creation.His_harvest]

Do you sell clippings to propagate?

[@projecttreecollard]

yes:) I have them now at www.projecttreecollard.org

[@Gods_creation.His_harvest]

@@projecttreecollard ok will you have rooted plants in spring? I am interested in purple tree collars but would prefer to wait till I can plant it in early spring/ late winter so it will get well established

[@projecttreecollard]

I usually have them in the spring but in 2023 I didn't....@@Gods_creation.His_harvest

[@Gods_creation.His_harvest]

@@projecttreecollard 👍🏻

[@debyers1]

Where did you purchase your Initial Merritt Tree Collards from?

[@projecttreecollard]

I got a cutting from the plant at Merritt College in Oakland.

[@debyers1]

Thanks for the info! Will purchase some seed as soon as I figure out some adequate spacing. A bit crammed at the moment

[@vmartinez2334]

Perfection

[@projecttreecollard]

thank you!

[@LindatheOldBird]

Can this be done with any collar plant? #ProjectTreeCollard

[@projecttreecollard]

any Tree Collard plant

[@Anythingforfreedom]

What are your favorite pruners?

[@projecttreecollard]

Tobisho SR-1 Pruners. hidatool.com/item/2645

[@Anythingforfreedom]

@@projecttreecollard Thank you, I’ve been looking for a source of high quality garden tools.

[@projecttreecollard]

@@Anythingforfreedom happy to help! I love Hida Tool!

[@karencooper6634]

I purchased several cuttings from but don't remember if there are Merrit or something else.....one of them went to seed, I saved some of the seeds but now its very scraggly. Can I cut the seed tops off and have it regrow into a fully leafed out plant?