I was reading that I could plant collard seeds in August/September in my zone. I was thinking that I had pulled up my squash/zucchini by August..I could replace that empty space with collards. Were my squash done last year or did they just die?

What was the length to maturity for the type of squash you planted? Most average 100 days...
The plants die off from disease? How much squash did you harvest?

Hmmm good question...I don't remember the length. When I buy them this year I'll look. I harvested so much that I couldn't give it away! It seemed to take a break, then I got a few more but then the plants just kind of shriveled up. I don't know much about diseases yet. I just figured they were done.

You answered my questions, lol
'What's done is done and cannot be undone'
I 'd say, those squash were kaput.
Amazing that you can do a follow 'crop' after squash...I'm always trying to stretch the season to harvest the darn stuff.
Squash are heavy feeders...my guess is collards like nitrogen and you probably have to add nutrients before you plant again?

Collards are a member of the cabbage family and make a great fall crop. They are cold hardy and sweeten during cold snaps. Even if you don't plan on eating them, they are a great source of greens for any critters you have. My family eats them, but I always plant more for our rabbits. they love them.

OOOH SON!!!, fried chicken, mashed taters and collard greens. Yes sir, bout as Southern as you can get. I love collards boiled up with a big slab of salt jowel. And they are much better if you wait till after frost to harvest any of them.

I may have to plant me some this year. I have not grown any in quiet some time. That sounds good now that you mention it.

Can't do it till Fall buddy! At least I think so. I've never seen anyone grow them any other time of year.
How about you?

Yes sir, I have planted them in the early Spring. Ate on them through the Summer and come fall, they were almost 5 feet tall. As they grew, I ate the bottom most leaves and let the stalks grow. When Fall came, they put on a heavy top and I cut them off and cooked them after frost. Well, some of them. Some I put in freezer bags and saved till I was ready for them.

I've never seen that before. Around here, folks only grow them in the fall. I don't know why, maybe just a local thing. When I grew up in Oklahoma, we almost never saw them.

I read you can grow them in the spring also. But they are better in the fall after the first frost. I have started cooking them with a smoked turkey leg instead of pork. I stained them out and gave them to my granddad and he didn't even notice the difference. I still haven't told him and I send them over all the time! I have never grown them but am also just a few years into gardening. I thought with the space I have it might work to throw them in after the squash...I'll give it a try...I hope the rabbits don't eat them all! I'll have to see how much fencing I have stashed.

Hey Dirtybird...

I lived in NC for many years, and you would see collards all winter there!

I think some folks grew them in the spring, too, but very early...then there was a lax time, until fall, again!

Yummy! I [u]love[/u] country ham with them, but can't get it here, so I will try the smoked turkey leg next time!

My daughter & I just LOVE to have us some collard greens & cornbread! Gettin' hungry now!
Vicki