The Secret to Growing Productive Tree Collards (From leggy to bushy)

[@busker153]

Well, I planted seeds six months ago here in Tucson, AZ and am happy to report the results. While the Purple Tree Collards did not grow (I have a plot in the front yard and the back, for sunlight variety), the Dinosaur Tree Collards did, as did the Big Blue Tree Collards and the Jolly Green Tree Collards. The Dinosaur variety is either growing slowly, or just does not get as big, but the Jolly Green are monsters. They also have a purple coloration to the vein that is just beautiful! They stayed perfectly healthy through about five deep freezes, and three snow events! We had a winter in the desert this year! And, the tree collards all just enjoyed it to no end. Covered in snow, but vibrant.

[@projecttreecollard]

thanks so much for the update William Stanley. It brings me joy! And yes, the Dinosaur variety is a shorter, less dense variety.

[@lexica510]

The purple tree collards I got from you in November of last year are now ridiculously happy and vigorous. Two of them are taller than I am, while still bushy and full. I love the feeling of looking at them and thinking "Wow, we'd better get eating if we want to keep up with these plants." My spouse now understands why I said "I don't think those stakes will be tall enough or sturdy enough"… 😂 One (in a different bed) is doing less well, which is an interesting puzzle.

[@projecttreecollard]

cool to hear. gardening is full of puzzles and mysteries;)

[@user-px7nh7vs4b]

Yes Sequoia, please do more videos. Some of us are so hungry for more information about tree collards.

[@projecttreecollard]

thanks B. What else do you want to know?

[@user-px7nh7vs4b]

@@projecttreecollard thanks so much for the reply. I live in zone 8b (deep east Texas) and would appreciate more info on how to grow these under shade trees or shaded some other way. Full sun here means death for most plants. Also, I've had much, much better luck with my latest attempts after using some bone meal, blood meal and quick lime in the planting holes AND waiting til early fall to grow and plant. Typically, I wouldn't use these additives for collards [such as Georgia collards or other "regular" collards, but the PTC seem to appreciate the supplements. Anyway, those of us who struggle really work hard to seek out information that might help us, so we appreciate every word you say and every technique you demonstrate. Those who easily grow PTC forests are very fortunate and I intend to get there one day. But for now, I am grateful to have six healthy plants. Just ordered more seeds and will plant immediately. Brassica do much better in late fall-early spring here. We thank you, Beatrice

[@projecttreecollard]

@@user-px7nh7vs4b thx! i will think more about video content that can help folx like you. I am growing now in 9A and we have snow now and up to 115 in the summers!

[@user-px7nh7vs4b]

@@projecttreecollard Thank you. Mine are doing better this summer despite temperatures over 100. It has been less humid and that may be helping. I am definitely watering regularly and I planted these under trees. They still get plenty of sun (trees are young oaks.) I want a forest! Thanks again

[@wemuk5170]

@@projecttreecollard I have watched this video over & over again. And not cease to be amazed that, you got them to become beautifully multi-trunked outdoors. Just by cutting off the tops, repeatedly? But that will just make them grow many new leaves (not new branches) like earlier in this video. How ELSE did you get them to become multi-trunk? Just cut the tops again? So beautiful! Thank you so much.🙏🙏🙏😊

[@TABULOUS1]

I'm here for the TEE!!!! 🙌🏽👩🏽‍🌾

[@projecttreecollard]

i used to sell them but i want to improve the design before I offer again:)

[@vmartinez2334]

Thank You Sequoiah, We are one dozen trees into teachings and amazed by their growth and abundance. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Everyone we talk to about our garden is intrigued most about the collard trees. This video could not have came at a better time. Thank You, V&Z

[@projecttreecollard]

awesome to hear:)

[@susanschwartz9072]

SOOOO helpful!!! Thank you Sequoia!

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

I bought some tree collard seeds from another KZbinr and I am going to plant them this year. I’m going to mulch the ground really good in a couple of weeks. I’m going to put up an electric fence for the rabbits and deer. Hopefully I can keep them out of it lol. I will be looking for different varieties after I get the seeds growing good. I will check out your store when I’m ready for more. Thank you for posting this information and sharing your knowledge!

[@projecttreecollard]

thanks! Growing tree collards from seed is a lot of fun!

[@busker153]

You are providing excellent information in a really good format! I got my seed order yesterday and have planted 4 seeds (one of each collard variety my wife bought for me) in solo cups. A slow start, but well worth it. I am growing a food forest in Tucson, AZ in the Sonoran Desert.

[@projecttreecollard]

thx so much for the feedback! welcome to the world of tree collards!

[@busker153]

@@projecttreecollard You are most welcome, and thank you. I feel welcomed! :o)

[@superbizee1]

I sprouted my Merritt Tree Collard seeds that I ordered from you a month or so ago. I planted them in seed starting mix. They, of course are tiny and I’m trying to keep them alive and growing. I have them in seed starting tray in a kitchen window. Would it help them to be healthier to put them under a grow light? I’m just trying to keep them alive and growing.

[@busker153]

@@superbizee1 I direct sow into the ground, and forget it. I use what is called the S.T.U.N. method of growing. Strategic Total Utter Neglect.

[@wemuk5170]

Multi-trunked! Wow, well done!! 😊🙏👍

[@tonyr7393]

I'm in the UK and currently growing and propagating Taunton Deane Kale. Once you've cut off the tips of your leggy tree collards, to promote new growth have you ever tried making small incisions directly above any of the nodes that don't throw out new growth of their own accord? I've seen this technique applied to some other plants and wonder if will work with tree collards (and my Taunton Deane), and make the plant bush up even more. Thanks for all of the info on your channel.

[@HealthyLivingWithWendy]

Thank you for sharing 💟

[@projecttreecollard]

thanks!

[@melodylamour6123]

Wow they grew so fast!

[@projecttreecollard]

they tend to do that:)

[@CF_Joel]

What would you say is the number 1 fastest growing tree collard? I noticed the Merritt and Jolly Green say "very vigorous" and the other "one of the fastest growing". I definitely want a Merritt for it's giant heavy leaves so I subscribed to be notified, and if there's a fastest, I'll get that later. I ordered a Purple, coming today, and I have 6 purple seedlings so far, one with purple cotyledons, the others green. Thanks for your great work!

[@projecttreecollard]

I think Jolly Green is the fastest in my experience

[@CF_Joel]

@@projecttreecollardThank you! I’ll put that on my list!

[@garbageguru1896]

Thank you for making the video! I can clone the thinnest cuttings using my outdoor aquaponics set up. Cuttings root really fast. Can even grow roots on single leaf cuttings. Only problem is when you plant the rooted single leaf it stays a single leaf. Lol! With Aquaponics all you got to do is stick the cutting in expanded clay and leave the water flowing all the time. No flood and drain. Let me know if i can help you experiment in any way. I think you tried to root leaves once if i remember correctly? Waste of time i found out when they root. Subbed your channel by the way!

[@projecttreecollard]

yes...the leaves root in water easily in my kitchen but they don't form into stems or plants unfortunately.

[@Gardenhauling]

Thank you for the video. I ordered one about a year ago( purple tree kale). Appreciate the info.

[@projecttreecollard]

thx!

[@michaelmason2829]

Thank You for this class

[@projecttreecollard]

you're welcome:)

[@TheDonnaCrosby]

I'm so gonna try this thank you

[@projecttreecollard]

yay

[@Cydneysworld]

when you cut the top off does the tree get any taller or just wider?

[@projecttreecollard]

it will get taller too...it will just help it bush out wider before it gets even taller and leggier

[@Cydneysworld]

@Project Tree Collard thank you. You recently sent me Michigan and Merritt seeds. I'm in the Nashville area. I planted some outside and since I love to experiment I started some indoors under a grow light. I already had planted regular collards outside and can't tell the tree collards from the Georgia collards but I think the tree collards did sprout outside. Do tree collards seedlings look different than Georgia collards. The Michigan and Merritt I started indoors have germinated but are leggy. Thanks so much for all you do, many have never heard of tree collards. 😊

[@projecttreecollard]

@@Cydneysworld I have never grown Georgia collards, just tree collards. I imagine while under 4 or 5 inches tall they are hard to tell apart.

[@nancyfahey7518]

Cool. And thanks.

[@projecttreecollard]

you're welcome:)

[@GreenLove1]

Great video! Can I do this pruning method at any time of the year? Also, can I do this even with my almost 5 ft tall plant? I would like it to get a bit bushier!

[@projecttreecollard]

if you are in the SF bay area you can do it all year. You shouldn't prune if you could still get a freeze. You can do it with ANY size plant

[@MasterCoachUniversity]

all of the ones we grew that you sent us are very leggy. we topped 1/2 of them and they do bush out a bit... not super productive in the summar like you said, tho - - - we'll see what the fall brings!

[@projecttreecollard]

keep me posted

[@bill.Latham]

I have some tree collars that are very leggy and bushy about 3.5 feet in height I was wondering could I just cut some of the cuttings and plant directly in the ground? Thank You

[@projecttreecollard]

You can try that if you have a lot of them. For me it was about a 3 or 4 out of 10 success ratio. Otherwise, plant in potting soil in 4 inch containers and watch my KZbin on how to do that:)

[@Cassandra57]

Wow, I had NO idea you could cut off the growing tip and get all that new growth. I'm assuming I could do this with other leggy collards and kales in my garden?

[@projecttreecollard]

You can do it with all perennial tree collards/kales. I am not sure about annuals though. I remember doing it to my dinosaur kale in attempt to delay flowering, but it didn't help much

[@Cassandra57]

@@projecttreecollard Thanks!

[@wandasinger7713]

Thank you again. I have two cuttings from you in one gallon pots. I’m ready too transplant them. I have 5, 10 and 20 gallon pots. Not sure what size to put them in. I won’t be planting them in the ground. What do you suggest? Thank you 🙏🏾

[@projecttreecollard]

you could use the 10 gallon for awhile, but they will eventually want to move up to the 20. I used 7 gallon bags for about 6 months but then they needed to get into the ground or something larger.

[@wandasinger7713]

@@projecttreecollard thank you 🙏🏾

[@lacellelamb9560]

Thank you so much! I just got some Tree Collard seeds and will start them this weekend. Do you have any tips for us on the east coast we live in Baltimore?

[@projecttreecollard]

I am unfamiliar with growing on the east coast, sorry! But do plant them the way/timing of broccoli or cauliflower or regular collard greens

[@JB-gf6hd]

Hello. I can't find your links on ebay anymore and would like to purchase a few plant for zone 8. Thanks

[@projecttreecollard]

not on ebay anyhore. www.projecttreecollard.org. Thanks!

[@starcrossedkitty8551]

Can you please do a video on how to grow tree collards from seeds?

[@projecttreecollard]

I'm editing one now!

[@cjdumpty]

How do you save a Tree Collards that's a start and has started swiveling up?

[@projecttreecollard]

Usually at that point its too late...I don't have a quick fix tip unfortunately

[@hexproneplayspoorly1580]

I notice you're cutting the stalks above the lowest leaves. Mine are about three or four feet tall, with NO leaves on the lower stalk. Can I still safely cut the tops off leaving a leafless stalk, or will the plant struggle with no leaves to sustain it. If I can't cut below the lowest leaf, what else can I do to rescue a leggy, spindly tree collard?

[@projecttreecollard]

yes you can go drastic but it is more risky, especially if it is suddenly very hot or very cold. I prefer to cut in stages. Cut the top, leaving a leaf or two, and then come back in a month or two later and cut more

[@hexproneplayspoorly1580]

@@projecttreecollard Thank you! I am in a mild climate (San Francisco) but the collards are in a partly shady patio in a container -- two feet deep, four feet long, one foot wide. Have I set them up to fail? I've been saddened to see how they're struggling. I think I had also previously been over-watering them and I've now changed that. Can I also compensate with more frequent fish fertilizer (I rarely fertilize, only every few months) or does the partial shade just spell doom? I don't think the issue is container size, as I've seen videos of much more vigorous tree collards in much smaller pots.

[@projecttreecollard]

@@hexproneplayspoorly1580 if it is a foggy area they want full sun but where I live I need to plant in 1/2 shade because its so hot. Yes, fertilizer is good in pots!

[@josanders1428]

Also did you fertilize them.

[@projecttreecollard]

no

[@barb8452]

I do want to order from you seeds etc

[@wemuk5170]

Can you grow, say a (permanently) 5-6 feet purple tree collard - in a large pot?

[@projecttreecollard]

lol..I'm not sure anything is permanent in a garden...but I think you can grow one for a long time in a LARGE pot.

[@wemuk5170]

@@projecttreecollard I’ve started growing one and it shot up very nicely, quickly to just over one foot! I like the way you have boldly + successfully made them bushy. But it’s hard to judge from a video how tall your plants are? When you bravely cut the centre top off? I need to be bold like you. How tall, tell me, how least tall, do I need to wait, I mean, how tall my PTC baby needs to be? Before I can copy you, S, to cut+chop off the centre? To make it branch out, bushy. Shall I wait till 2 foot? Please help with your advice, many thanks. 😊🙏

[@projecttreecollard]

@@wemuk5170 you can cut them when they are shorter than 2 feet....and if its too scary for you, cut less:)

[@josanders1428]

Is it to late to cut them back? Thank you.

[@projecttreecollard]

no

[@paulysdowntoearthgardens2512]

🥰🥰🥰

[@projecttreecollard]

thx;)

[@michellechavez4055]

Its really hard to hear you

[@projecttreecollard]

I bought a new mic now....hopefully sound will improve in the future

[@josanders1428]

Are you going to rood the cuttings

[@projecttreecollard]

no I didn't because they were thin. I ate them for dinner

[@josanders1428]

@@projecttreecollard 😂😂😂

[@pk-pj4sz]

Na mine is bushyy