Continentalseeds Hybrid Collard Spiner F1

Collards Seeds (Sukuma Wiki) is commercially cultivated for its thick, slightly bitter, edible leaves. Collards Seeds (Sukuma Wiki) are available year-round, but are tastier and more nutritious in the cold months, after the first frost. For best texture, the leaves are picked before they reach their maximum size, at which stage they are thicker and are cooked differently from the new leaves. Age does not affect flavor. Flavor and texture also depend on the cultivar; the couve manteiga and couve tronchuda are especially appreciated in Brazil and Portugal.

The Continental Seeds Hybrid Collard Spiner F1 is a robust and high-yielding variety known for its excellent taste and adaptability. Here's a detailed overview:

Features

Plant Type: Non-heading with semi-erect leaf attitude and growing points starting at the lower part of a short stem.

Leaf Characteristics: Large, dark green, obovate leaves with a broadly round apex. The leaves are tender and have very weak blistering.

Maturity: The collard matures 40-50 days after transplanting.

Yield Potential: High yield potential of 20-25 tons per acre under good farming practices.

Resistance: Notable tolerance to Diamond Back Moth (DBM), light frost, and significant resistance to Ring Spot, Fusarium Yellow, and Black Rot diseases.

Bolting Tendency: High tolerance to bolting.

Benefits

Versatility: Ideal for growing year-round across all ecological zones.

Culinary Use: The tender quality and excellent taste make it perfect for cooking. It can be lightly sautéed in oil until tender, flavored with onion, and seasoned with salt. It can be served as a main accompaniment or as a side dish with preferred meat.

Health Benefits: Rich in vitamins A and C, which strengthen the eyes, aid in body cell repair, and smoothen the skin. It also contains fiber that aids in digestion and lowers cholesterol levels.

Cultivation Practices

Spacing: Recommended spacing is 45x45 cm or 45x30 cm.

Seed Rate: Approximately 150 grams per acre, with around 230 seeds per gram.

Growing Areas: Suitable for low to high altitudes.

Pack Sizes

Available in various pack sizes, including:

Kadogo (100 seeds)

2.5 grams

5 grams

10 grams

25 grams

50 grams

100 grams

250 grams

Pests

• The sting nematode Belonolaimus gracilis and the awl nematode, Dolichodorus spp. are both ectoparasites that can injure collard. Root symptoms include, stubby or coarse roots that are dark at the tips. Shoot symptoms include, stunted growth, premature wilting and chlorosis (Nguyen and Smart, 1975). Another species of the sting worm, Belonolaimus longicaudatus is a pest of collards in Georgia and North Carolina (Robbins and Barker, 1973). B. longicaudatus is devastating to seedlings and transplants. As few as three nematodes per 100g of soil when transplanting can cause significant yield losses on susceptible plants. They are most common in sandy soils (Noling, 2012).
• The stubby root nematodes Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus attach and feed near the tip of collard’s taproots. The damage caused prevents proper root elongation leading to tight mats that could appear swollen, therefore resulting in a “stubby root” (Noling, 2012).
• Several species of the root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. infest collards. These include: M. javanica, M. incognita and M. arenaria. Second-stage juveniles attack the plant and settle in the roots. However, infestation seems to occur at lower populations compared to other cruciferous plants. Root symptoms include deformation (galls) and injury that prevent proper water and nutrient uptake. This could eventually lead to stunting, wilting and chlorosis of the shoots (Crow and Dunn, 2012).