Greens

I have some questions for those with experience growing Collards, Turnip Greens (especially Seven Top), Mustard Greens, and Tree Collards. I live in North Alabama (Zone 7b)

Collard, Mustard, Turnip Greens:
1. I know they well during Fall, but how is their survival and production rate going into Summer and even early Spring in my zone?
2. How good are they about self-seeding?

Tree Collards/Kale:
1. What's y'all's experience growing them?
2. How do they taste, and how do they compare to the other above three?
3. Do they do well in Summer?
4. Anybody have any experience growing them in North Alabama or other Zone 7b areas? 7b is listed as 'marginal' for every variety I could find, except for those bred specifically for cold, so I wanted to see if anybody had any hard knowledge of their ability to grow here sustainably.

Thanks!

Hi Kane,

I'm in zone 6a in southern Missouri.
My turnips are still producing leaves in late May, and the kale in partial shade is doing great. My cut and come lettuce is still good, but radishes (we eat the young leaves as a cooked green) are bolting, as are most if the brassicas, and the spinach has mostly shut down. I'll probably pull those soon, and try planting swiss chard. I've had success with mustard greens making it through the hot summers, and try to plant beets and kale under their leaves.

I'm afraid I didn't plant any collards, so no info available there.

Hope this information is helpful.
Mary Hyde

Hi there from western MA (5b).
    I grow Japanese purple mustard and mine have self sewn for the last 3 years. For the self seeding aspect, I think cutting back weeds and cover crop at the right time is essential for the seeds to come back on their own. For me, this means once the ground ivy has reached maturity and is is well into flower, I cut back or pull anything that is carpeting the soil. The mustards that come up in spring will usually bolt and will have resewn seed in time for fall harvest, which again, self seeds the next spring's crop. The Japanese purple mustards will get greener and elongate throughout the years. (Assuming that they are reverting to a parent gene) I grow mustards in sun and shade and the only difference is the mature size is smaller in shade.
    For kale, I grow red Russian and have a similar experience as I do with mustard. The difference being, the kale will not seed until the late fall and are harvestable all summer. (Even in July and August with 90°f sun)
For collard greens, I don't have problems with bolting the year of planting. They do good through our cold winters and will go to seed by late spring the following year. I will let the seeds fall to see how they self sew later this year or next spring.