canesisters
Garden Master
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Rare Collards?
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canesisters
Garden Master
That quote is from the 'Easy Bean Network' thread. @journey11 was going to a seed swap and @marshallsmyth suggested that she be on the lookout for collard seeds too. "RARE" collards? This got me wondering. This time of year, you can't drive down any road around here without seeing at least one yard with a huge collard patch and a sign 'Collards 4 Sale'.
I did a quick google search and - to my suprise - found that there are only 5 varieties available out there: Georgia Southern, Champion, Morris Heading, Vates and Tiger Hybrid. Most sites only had 1 or 2. Some simply listed their selection as 'collards'.
Could we really be on the way to a collard emergency?
How would I go about FINDING some of these rare collards to grow and save seeds?????
I did a quick google search and - to my suprise - found that there are only 5 varieties available out there: Georgia Southern, Champion, Morris Heading, Vates and Tiger Hybrid. Most sites only had 1 or 2. Some simply listed their selection as 'collards'.
Could we really be on the way to a collard emergency?
How would I go about FINDING some of these rare collards to grow and save seeds?????
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TheSeedObsesser
Deeply Rooted
Maybe become a Seed Saver's Exchange member? I know that non-members can browse listings too. Let me know if this link works!
https://exchange.seedsavers.org/catalog/results.aspx?type=browse&cat=69
https://exchange.seedsavers.org/catalog/results.aspx?type=browse&cat=69
baymule
Garden Master
@TheSeedObsesser that link worked! I grew Georgia Southern collards a few years ago. Would you believe they produced for FOUR YEARS before going to seed last spring? They grew long and stalky, probably 5' tall, fell over, got all twisty, but still churned out collard leaves like a champ! I saved seed from them and will plant them in the spring.
I didn't know there was so many varieties, thanks for sharing!
I didn't know there was so many varieties, thanks for sharing!
digitS'
Garden Master
Made me look through to see what the folks have in the way of a Portuguese kale ...
There is one that the contributor says is a Brassica napus, which puts it in the rutabaga family. So, not a Couve Tonchuda kale. Casting about ... okay, here's Renee's Garden with Portuguese kale but it's a hybrid, just like Johnnys offers ... Wait! Baker Creek has a non-hybrid.
I can see how these rare varieties might cue rescue impulses in gardeners.
Steve
There is one that the contributor says is a Brassica napus, which puts it in the rutabaga family. So, not a Couve Tonchuda kale. Casting about ... okay, here's Renee's Garden with Portuguese kale but it's a hybrid, just like Johnnys offers ... Wait! Baker Creek has a non-hybrid.
I can see how these rare varieties might cue rescue impulses in gardeners.
Steve
TheSeedObsesser
Deeply Rooted
I'm glad that that link helped somebody out.
Four years!? No wonder they are slowly disappearing. Perhaps now that you have a good resource for rare collard varieties and plenty of land on which to plant them you can start your own collard "rescue." Although imagine getting stuck with a super-rare variety and having to wait four years until you know whether or not that variety would make it.
Four years!? No wonder they are slowly disappearing. Perhaps now that you have a good resource for rare collard varieties and plenty of land on which to plant them you can start your own collard "rescue." Although imagine getting stuck with a super-rare variety and having to wait four years until you know whether or not that variety would make it.
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canesisters
Garden Master
That's a GREAT link @TheSeedObsesser! Thank You!!!
baymule
Garden Master
Oh, I wasn't mad at them for living so long! I thought it was pretty darn fantastic. Plus they put out suckers that I could cut off and root. I fed the greens to the chickens in the summer and we ate them in the winter. They were a great addition to the garden, but I would have put them in a better place if I had known they would live so long! When I plant their seeds, I will plan on a permanent place for them--and hope they grow 6' tall and live for 4 years again!I'm glad that that link helped somebody out.
Four years!? No wonder they are slowly disappearing. Perhaps now that you have a good resource for rare collard varieties and plenty of land on which to plant them you can start your own collard "rescue." Although imagine getting stuck with a super-rare variety and having to wait four years until you know whether or not that variety would make it.
TheSeedObsesser
Deeply Rooted
I figured that it was a great thing food-wise. Just didn't know that cuttings could be taken to produce new plants, I thought that seed was required for them to reproduce.
You won't have to reseed/till that area after you get your collards in!
The SSE memberships are expensive, but worth it when all of those rare/not commercially-available seeds become available for sale.
You won't have to reseed/till that area after you get your collards in!
The SSE memberships are expensive, but worth it when all of those rare/not commercially-available seeds become available for sale.
digitS'
Garden Master
There would be more collard varieties offered, maybe even several Portuguese kales?
What this group charges for membership: $40/regular annual membership.
Are you a member @TheSeedObsesser ??
Steve
What this group charges for membership: $40/regular annual membership.
Are you a member @TheSeedObsesser ??
Steve
