Zachary Snipes, Assistant Program Team Leader-Horticulture, Area Horticulture Agent
With Christmas and New Year’s Day right around the corner, the only thing that should be on your mind is a big ol’ pot of collard greens for your holiday celebrations. Now is the time of the year when greens should be happily growing in gardens across the region. Giving your greens exactly what they need and keeping pests at bay will make that holiday celebration even better. Collards and other leafy greens benefit from adding a side-dressed fertilizer once planted. About one month after leafy greens are planted, plants should be fertilized with about 5 pounds of calcium nitrate (15.5-0-0) fertilizer per 300 row feet and placed about six inches away from the plant. The plant will use this supplemental fertilizer to grow more foliage before harvest for the festivities.
When out fertilizing plants, be sure to scout, or look under the leaves of the collards for caterpillars. I have seen increasing numbers of caterpillars in the last several weeks. These caterpillars will feed on the plant, making holes, which makes the plant less desirable. There are several species of caterpillars, such as the cross-striped cabbageworm, diamondback moth, and cabbage looper, that will cause lots of damage. When these species are found, the best thing to do is pick them off and give your chickens a nice treat. The undersides of the leaves should be checked a few times a week for insect pests. With proper fertility and keeping insects off your greens, you will surely enjoy a bountiful harvest.
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