Do I need to cut collard greens at the top with flowers growing in the middle or leave them.
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You can pick the leaves as the plant grows, always cutting off the ones at the bottom of the plant. As the inner stalk continues to grow upwards and produce more leaves, your collard plant will eventually look like a little tree with a bare stem at the bottom and leaves on the top. They will start to get top-heavy towards the end of the season and may require support.
For more information on growing collard greens, check out:
Your collard greens are bolting. It may be hot where you live. Cut the flowers off. The plant will use its energy to make flowers, not vegetables.
I have grown some nice collards and I never topped them. I always let them go to seed for next year.
Attosa is right. Start picking the leaves from the bottom. However, the first 5-6 leaves should be picked and thrown away. This will add more strength to the other leaves, provide better air circulation and help keep down the collard maggot.
The article stated to plant seed shallowly. This may be true, but collards need to be planted deeply. The plants of shallowly planted seed would need to be transplanted deeper. I bury all of the seedling except the two top leaves, having torn the others away. This makes for a stronger, better plant. I learned this from my ag agent.
Judy is right as well. Collards are a cool season crop and grow best in Fall. Summer heat will cause them to bolt. I plant mine as early as possible in the Spring so they mature before extreme heat sets in. The picture shows them growing along side snow peas which I planted in February.
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