Description
This listing is for those who want a couple tries at rooting 2 different tree collards in one order. This packet contains 2 Purple Tree Collard cuttings and 2 Merritt Tree Collard cuttings. The Merritt cuttings are slightly shorter than our other cuttings and are sometimes not as easy to root as Purple Tree Collard cuttings. Starting a new tree collard plant can be easy but it takes a moment of daily attention until the plants have rooted. If you want to skip the step of rooting cuttings, you can buy plants that are already rooted.
Purple Tree Collards are a perennial vegetable related to collard greens. They can get over eight feet in height and will continue to grow and produce year after year. They turn darker purple tones in cool months and are lighter green in warm months. They rarely go to seed. They can survive temperatures down to around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Many people find that the flavor of Purple Tree Collards is superior to traditional collard greens. They are very productive and tend to be more disease and pest resistant.
Merritt Tree Collards are a vigorous perennial with large leaves measuring up to 2 feet long. They are more compact and narrow than other tree collards and don’t get anywhere near as leggy. They do go to seed in spring but they are still productive in the flowering/seed pod phase. You can save seed and propagate these seeds. If you have other brassicas blooming at the same time, you will get some interesting hybrids because they cross pollinate. Plants can grow 7-9 feet tall after 5 years. You can propagate from the very thick stalks it makes by cutting them with a saw and sticking them in a large pot with high quality potting soil.
In addition to humans, chickens and ducks love to eat tree collards- their egg yolks will turn a brilliant orange. Like other collard greens, Purple Tree Collards are very nutritious. They are high in Vitamins B1, B2, B9, C, and beta-Carotene and are a great source of fiber.
All of our cuttings are tip cuttings from young, healthy growth on our mother plants which are grown in fertile, compost rich soil. We never use pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers in our garden. Cuttings are wrapped in damp paper and a small plastic bag so that they will remain moist during transit.
Detailed instructions for growing your tree collards will be included with your order. You can also find our videos on Youtube at Project Tree Collard. Many of our customers have had great success with rooting cuttings. However, we cannot guarantee your success. They come in bundles of 4 because they sometimes don’t all root.
Please have high quality potting soil and some 4″ or 1 gallon containers on hand for their arrival. Tree collards root best in mild weather conditions and will need sun. If your region is hot when you receive your cuttings, you’ll want to keep them in partial shade while they form roots. We have a tutorial here showing how to root tree collards from cuttings.
Please note that while we hope that every order we ship thrives in your garden, we cannot be responsible for cuttings that freeze or get cooked in your mailbox or suffer for any other reason outside of our control. Please consider the weather in your region when ordering. If there is a defect with your order please take photos and contact us within 24 hours of arrival. We hope you enjoy your cuttings!
