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To harvest collards from your garden, wait until the leaves are large enough to eat but still tender, then cut them from the bottom of the plant upward so it keeps producing.
If you’ve been wondering how to harvest collards from garden spaces you’ve carefully tended, the good news is that it’s one of the easiest greens to pick.
Collards are a cut-and-come-again crop, which means the more you harvest, the more the plant gives you.
You can harvest collards from garden beds just about any time once the leaves reach a usable size.
In this post, we’ll walk through when to harvest collards, the right technique for picking them, and how to keep your plants producing for months.
Let’s dig in.
When to Harvest Collards From Your Garden
Knowing when to harvest collards from garden plants is half the battle, so here’s what to look for.
1. Wait for the Right Leaf Size
You can start to harvest collards from garden plants when the leaves are about 6 to 10 inches long.
Smaller leaves are tender and mild, while bigger ones get a bit tougher and more bitter.
If you plan to harvest collards from garden beds for a long season, aim for medium-sized leaves.
2. Watch the Days to Maturity
Most collard varieties are ready to harvest in about 60 to 80 days after transplanting.
That said, you don’t have to wait for full maturity to harvest collards from garden plants.
Baby collards can be picked as early as 30 days if you just want tender salad greens.
3. Pick Before the Heat Sets In
Collards taste sweetest when the weather is cool.
If you harvest collards from garden beds in the middle of a hot summer, the leaves can turn bitter.
For the best flavor, harvest collards from garden plants in the morning before the sun gets too high.
How to Harvest Collards From Garden Plants Step by Step
Once you know when to harvest collards, the actual picking is simple.
Here’s how to harvest collards from garden plants the right way.
1. Start From the Bottom Leaves
The oldest leaves sit at the bottom of the plant.
When you harvest collards from garden plants, always start with these lower leaves first.
This keeps the plant tidy and encourages new growth at the top.
2. Use Clean, Sharp Scissors or Shears
Grab a pair of sharp scissors or garden shears.
To harvest collards from garden beds without damaging the plant, snip the leaf stem about an inch from the main stalk.
Avoid tearing the leaves off by hand, as this can hurt the plant.
3. Leave the Growing Point Alone
The center of the collard plant is where new leaves form.
When you harvest collards from garden plants, never cut the central growing tip.
Leave at least 4 to 6 leaves on the plant so it can keep photosynthesizing.
4. Don’t Strip the Whole Plant
It’s tempting to harvest collards from garden beds all at once, but don’t.
Take only a third of the leaves at a time.
This way, you can harvest collards from garden plants again in just a week or two.
Tips to Keep Harvesting Collards All Season
If you want to harvest collards from garden spaces for months, a little care goes a long way.
1. Feed the Plants After Each Harvest
Every time you harvest collards from garden plants, give them a boost.
A side dressing of compost or a nitrogen-rich fertilizer helps them bounce back fast.
2. Water Deeply and Consistently
Collards need steady moisture to stay tender.
If you harvest collards from garden beds that are too dry, the leaves get tough and stringy.
Aim for about an inch of water per week.
3. Watch for Pests
Aphids and cabbage worms love collards as much as you do.
Before you harvest collards from garden plants, check the undersides of leaves.
A quick rinse or a spray of insecticidal soap keeps them in check.
4. Harvest in the Cool of the Day
The best time to harvest collards from garden plants is early morning.
That’s when the leaves are crisp and full of moisture.
If you harvest collards from garden beds at noon, they’ll wilt faster in the kitchen.
5. Store Them Right
After you harvest collards from garden plants, don’t just toss them in a pile.
Wrap the leaves in a damp paper towel and place them in a plastic bag.
They’ll keep in the fridge for up to a week.
So, How Do You Harvest Collards From Garden Plants?
You harvest collards from garden plants by cutting the lower, outer leaves first while leaving the center to keep growing.
Wait until the leaves are 6 to 10 inches long, use clean shears, and never take more than a third of the plant at once.
With steady watering and a little fertilizer, you can harvest collards from garden beds again and again for months.
Now you know exactly how to harvest collards from garden spaces, so grab your shears and get picking.