Collard Greens | Diseases And Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation

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SIGN IN Go Back Collard greens Content Content 1. Description 2. Uses 3. Propagation 4. References Diseases - Fungal Pests - Insects - Nematodes See questions about Collard greens

Description

Collards, Brassica oleracea var viridis are herbaceous annual or biennial plants in the family Brassicaceae grown for their edible leaves which are consumed as a vegetable. Collards are erect, branched plants with thick stems and irregularly lobed dark green leaves with long petioles. The plant produces clusters of small yellow flowers on racemes. Collards can reach 1 m (3.3 ft) in height and are usually grown as annuals, harvested after one growing season. Collards may also be referred to as collard greens or tree cabbage and likely originated from a wild ancestor in ancient Asia minor. Collards and mustard greens Harvested collard greens ready for sale Collard plant Harvested collard leaves Collards ‹ › ×

Uses

Collards leaves are usually consumed after cooking and are eaten as a leafy green vegetable. ‹ › ×

Propagation

Basic requirements Collard greens are a cool season crop that grow best in cool, moist conditions. The plant will grow best at temperatures between 4 and 21°C (40–50°F) allowing it to be grown in both Spring and Fall. Collards are very hardy and will tolerate frost. The plants will grow optimally in a rich, moist, well draining soil with a pH of 6.5. Collard greens requires at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. Sowing seeds Collard greens can be direct seeded or started indoors for transplants. The optimum soil temperature for germination is between 12 and 24°C (55–75°F). Collard seeds should be planted after any danger of hard frost or in a cold frame for transplanting to their final location. For Fall harvest, plant collard seeds in July so that the plants develop in cooler weather. Prepare the soil for planting through the addition of nitrogen in the form of bone meal or composted manure. Plant seeds 6 mm (0.25 in) deep allowing 3.5 cm (1 in) between plants in the row, allowing 0.6–1.2 m (2–4 ft) between rows. Thin seedlings to a final within row spacing of 30–60 cm (12–24 in). Keep soil moist during germination to prevent a crust from forming on the soil surface as this will cause uneven germination. Transplanting Seedlings started indoors or in a cold frame are ready to be transplanted when they have 5–6 true leaves. Seedlings should be planted at the final spacing for seeds (30–60 cm/12–24 in between plants and 0.6 to 1.2 m/2–4 ft between rows). Plant each seedling slightly deeper than it was previously. The plantings can be staggered in 2 week intervals to prolong the harvest. General care and maintenance Collards should be kept evenly watered, application of mulch around plants helps to conserve soil moisture. The plants have shallow roots and in order to avoid damaging them, it is preferable to hand pull any weeds growing around the plants. Collards are heavy feeders, requiring plentiful nitrogen to meet their growth requirements and develop optimally. Apply an appropriate complete fertilizer when thinning seedlings. Harvesting Collard greens can be harvested about 2 months after planting. Harvest the outer leaves to avoid damaging the growing tip of the plant. Collard leaves are sweeter when they are harvested after frost.. ‹ › ×

References

Anderson, C. R. Collards. University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Available at: http://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-6067.pdf. [Accessed 13 November 14]. Free to access. CABI Crop Protection Compendium. (2010). Brassica oleracea var. viridis datasheet. Available at: http://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/10104. [Accessed 13 November 14]. Paid subscription required. Masabni, J. (2009). Collard Greens. Texas A&M University AgrLife Extension. Available at: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/files/2010/10/E-506_collard_greens.pdf. [Accessed 13 November 14]. Free to access. Rimmer, S. R., Shattuck, V. I. Buchwaldt, L. (Eds) (2007). Compendium of Brassica Diseases. American Phytopathological Society Press. Available at: http://www.apsnet.org/apsstore/shopapspress/Pages/42848.aspx. Available for purchase from APS Press. ‹ › ×

Common Pests and Diseases

Diseases

Category : Fungal

Alternaria leaf spot Alternaria spp.

Symptoms

Brown to tan concentric rings with yellow edges on leaves; centers of lesions developing gray to brown soft fungal mold; brown to black lesions with a black border on roots

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Disease emergence favors warm, wet conditons

Management

Plant only pathogen-free seed; rotate crops; applications of appropriate fungicides control disease when present

Anthracnose Colletotrichum higginsianum

Symptoms

Small circular or irregularly shaped dry spots which are gray to straw in color on leaves; a high number of spots may cause the leaf to die; lesions may coalesce to form large necrotic patches causing leaves to turn yellow and wilt; lesions may split or crack in dry centers; dry sunken spots on roots which enlarge and turn gray or brown

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Fungus overwinters on leaf debris and on related weeds; disease emergence is favored by moist, warm conditions

Management

Control of disease depends on sanitary practices; treat seeds with hot water prior to planting; rotate crops; plant in an area with good soil drainage; remove all cruciferous weeds which may act as a reservoir for the fungus

Black rot Xanthomonas campestris

Symptoms

Seedlings develop wilted yellow to brown leaves and collapse; yellow, V-shaped lesions on mature leaf margins; dark rings can be found in the cross section of the stem

Cause

Bacterium

Comments

Disease emergence favors warm, wet conditions

Management

Primary control methods based on good sanitation; plant disease-free seed; rotate crops every 2 years or less to non-brassica; avoid sprinkler irrigation

Cercospora leaf spot (Frogeye leaf spot) Cercospora brassicicola

Symptoms

Angular or circular green to gray spots with brown borders on leaves; plant defoliation may occur in the case of a severe infestation

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Disease emergence favors cool temperatures and wet weather

Management

Plant only certified disease-free seed; avoid overhead irrigation; rotate crops to non-brassica species for 2-3 years; apply appropriate fungicide if disease emerges

Clubroot Plasmodiophora brassicae

Symptoms

Slow growing, stunted plants; yellowish leaves which wilt during day and rejuvenate in part at night; swollen, distorted roots; extensive gall formation

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Can be difficult to distinguish from nematode damage; fungus can survive in soil for periods in excess of 10 years; can be spread by movement of contaminated soil and irrigation water to uninfected areas

Management

Once the pathogen is present in the soil it can survive for many years, elimination of the pathogen is economically unfeasible; rotating crops generally does not provide effective control; plant only certified seed and avoid field grown transplants unless produced in a fumigated bed; applying lime to the soil can reduce fungus sporulation

Downy mildew Peronospora parasitica

Downy mildew symptoms on collards Downy mildew symptoms on collards ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Gray to white fluffy mold on the underside of leaves; tan to yellow dry spots on upper surface of leaves; leaves dropping

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Disease emergence favors cool temperatures; disease spreads quickly in wet conditions

Management

Remove all crop debris after harvest; rotate with non-brassicas; application of appropriate fungicides may be required if symptoms of disease are present

White leaf spot Pseudocercosporella capsellae

Symptoms

Small, necrotic, brown spots on leaf tips or margins that matures to light gray or white with the original dark spot in center; margins of lesions may be darker; lesions may coalesce to form large chlorotic areas and cause defoliation

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Disease emergence favors cool and wet conditions

Management

No known plant resistance to white leaf spot so control relies on cultural practices such as rotating crops and removing weeds; application of appropriate fungicide may help control the disease

Wirestem (Damping-off) Rhizoctonia solani

Symptoms

Death of seedlings after germination; brown-red or black rot girdling stem; seedling may remain upright but stem is constricted and twisted (wirestem)

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Disease emergence favors slow growing, deeply seeded plants and cool, wet soils

Management

Plant pathogen-free seed or transplants that have been produced in sterilized soil; apply fungicide to seed to kill off any fungi; shallow plant seeds or delay planting until soil warms

Pests

Category : Insects

Beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua

Young larvae Beet armyworm eggs covered in white hairs Beet armyworm larva ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Singular, or closely grouped circular to irregularly shaped holes in foliage; heavy feeding by young larvae leads to skeletonized leaves; shallow, dry wounds on fruit; egg clusters of 50-150 eggs may be present on the leaves; egg clusters are covered in a whitish scale which gives the cluster a cottony or fuzzy appearance; young larvae are pale green to yellow in color while older larvae are generally darker green with a dark and light line running along the side of their body and a pink or yellow underside

Cause

Insect

Comments

Insect can go through 3–5 generations a year

Management

Organic methods of controlling the beet armyworm include biological control by natural enemies which parasitize the larvae and the application of Bacillus thuringiensis; there are chemicals available for commercial control but many that are available for the home garden do not provide adequate control of the larvae

Cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicaea

Cabbage aphid colony ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Large populations can cause stunted growth or even plant death; insects may be visible on the plant leaves and are small, grey-green in color and soft bodied and are covered with a white waxy coating; prefer to feed deep down in cabbage head and may be obscured by the leaves

Cause

Insect

Comments

Cabbage aphids feed only on cruciferous plants but may survive on related weed species

Management

If aphid population is limited to just a few leaves or shoots then the infestation can be pruned out to provide control; check transplants for aphids before planting; use tolerant varieties if available; reflective mulches such as silver colored plastic can deter aphids from feeding on plants; sturdy plants can be sprayed with a strong jet of water to knock aphids from leaves; insecticides are generally only required to treat aphids if the infestation is very high - plants generally tolerate low and medium level infestation; insecticidal soaps or oils such as neem or canola oil are usually the best method of control; always check the labels of the products for specific usage guidelines prior to use

Cabbage looper Trichoplusia ni

Cabbage looper and damage ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Large or small holes in leaves; damage often extensive; caterpillars are pale green with a white lines running down either side of their body; caterpillars are easily distinguished by the way they arch their body when moving; eggs are laid singly, usually on the lower leaf surface close to the leaf margin, and are white or pale green in color

Cause

Insect

Comments

Insects overwinter as pupae in crop debris in soil; adult insect id a dark colored moth; caterpillars have a wide host range

Management

Looper populations are usually held in check by natural enemies; if they do become problematic larvae can be hand-picked from the plants; an organically acceptable control method is the application of Bacillus thuringiensis which effectively kills younger larvae; chemical sprays may damage populations of natural enemies and should and should be selected carefully

Cutworms Agrotis spp. Peridroma saucia Nephelodes minians and others

Cutworms will curl up into a characteristic C shape when disturbed Cutworm feeding on plant stem Cutworm larva severing plant stem ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Stems of young transplants or seedlings may be severed at soil line; if infection occurs later, irregular holes are eaten into the surface of fruits; larvae causing the damage are usually active at night and hide during the day in the soil at the base of the plants or in plant debris of toppled plant; larvae are 2.5–5.0 cm (1–2 in) in length; larvae may exhibit a variety of patterns and coloration but will usually curl up into a C-shape when disturbed

Cause

Insects

Comments

Cutworms have a wide host range and attack vegetables including asparagus, bean, cabbage and other crucifers, carrot, celery, corn, lettuce, pea, pepper, potato and tomato

Management

Remove all plant residue from soil after harvest or at least two weeks before planting, this is especially important if the previous crop was another host such as alfalfa, beans or a leguminous cover crop; plastic or foil collars fitted around plant stems to cover the bottom 3 inches above the soil line and extending a couple of inches into the soil can prevent larvae severing plants; hand-pick larvae after dark; spread diatomaceous earth around the base of the plants (this creates a sharp barrier that will cut the insects if they try and crawl over it); apply appropriate insecticides to infested areas of garden or field if not growing organically

Diamondback moth Plutella xylostella

Larva feeding on cabbage leaf Diamondback moth pupae ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Young larvae feed between upper and lower leaf surface and may be visible when they emerge from small holes on the underside of the leaf; older larvae leave large, irregularly shaped shotholes on leaf undersides, may leave the upper surface intact; larvae may drop from the plant on silk threads if the leaf is disturbed; larvae are small (1 cm/0.3 in) and tapered at both ends; larvae have to prolegs at the rear end that are arranged in a distinctive V-shape

Cause

Insect

Comments

Larvae take between 10 and 14 days to mature and spin a loose, gauze-like cocoon on leaves or stems to pupate

Management

Larvae can be controlled organically by applications of Bacillus thurengiensis or Entrust; application of appropriate chemical insecticide is only necessary if larvae are damaging the growing tips of the plants

Flea beetles Phylotreta spp.

Crucifer flea beetle damage on broccoli leaf ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Small holes or pits in leaves that give the foliage a characteristic “shothole” appearance; young plants and seedlings are particularly susceptible; plant growth may be reduced; if damage is severe the plant may be killed; the pest responsible for the damage is a small (1.5–3.0 mm) dark colored beetle which jumps when disturbed; the beetles are often shiny in appearance

Cause

Insects

Comments

Younger plants are more susceptible to flea beetle damage than older ones; older plants can tolerate infestation; flea beetles may overwinter on nearby weed species, in plant debris or in the soil; insects may go through a second or third generation in one year

Management

In areas where flea beetles are a problem, floating row covers may have to be used prior to the emergence of the beetles to provide a physical barrier to protect young plants; plant seeds early to allow establishment before the beetles become a problem - mature plants are less susceptible to damage; trap crops may provide a measure of control - cruciferous plants are best; application of a thick layer of mulch may help prevent beetles reaching surface; application on diamotecoeus earth or oils such as neem oil are effective control methods for organic growers; application of insecticides containing carbaryl, spinosad, bifenthrin and permethrin can provide adequate control of beetles for up to a week but will need reapplied

Large cabbage white (Cabbageworm) Pieres rapae

Cabbageworm and frass ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Large ragged holes in leaves or bored into head; green-brown frass (insect feces) on leaves; caterpillar is green in color and hairy, with a velvet-like appearance; may have faint yellow to orange stripes down back; slow-moving compared with other caterpillars

Cause

Insect

Comments

Larvae can be distinguished from other caterpillars by their sluggish movement; in large numbers larvae can cause extensive damage very quickly

Management

Hand-pick caterpillars from plants and destroy; scrape eggs from leaves prior to hatching; apply appropriate insecticide if infestation is very heavy

Thrips (Western flower thrips, Onion thrips, etc.) Frankliniella occidentalis Thrips tabaci

Western flower thrips ‹ › ×

Symptoms

If population is high leaves may be distorted; leaves are covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery; leaves speckled with black feces; insect is small (1.5 mm) and slender and best viewed using a hand lens; adult thrips are pale yellow to light brown and the nymphs are smaller and lighter in color

Cause

Insect

Comments

Transmit viruses such as Tomato spotted wilt virus; once acquired, the insect retains the ability to transmit the virus for the remainder of its life

Management

Avoid planting next to onions, garlic or cereals where very large numbers of thrips can build up; use reflective mulches early in growing season to deter thrips; apply appropriate insecticide if thrips become problematic

Category : Nematodes

Root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp.

Symptoms

Galls on roots which can be up to 3.3 cm (1 in) in diameter but are usually smaller; reduction in plant vigor; yellowing plants which wilt in hot weather

Cause

Nematode

Comments

Galls can appear as quickly as a month prior to planting; nematodes prefer sandy soils and damage in areas of field or garden with this type of soil is most likely

Management

Plant resistant varieties if nematodes are known to be present in the soil ;check roots of plants mid-season or sooner if symptoms indicate nematodes; solarizing soil can reduce nematode populations in the soil and levels of inoculum of many other pathogens ×

Question about Collard greens

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