Side by side
Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.
Comparing Rutabaga vs. Collard Greens
The comparison
| Fact | | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Easy |
| Life cycle | Biennial | Biennial |
| Sowing depth | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in |
| Spacing between plants | 15 cm6 in | 15–46 cm6–18 in |
| Days to maturity | Not yet verified | 60–80 days from sowing |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | Not yet verified | Moderate |
| Frost tolerance | Half-hardy (light frost) | Hardy |
| Soil pH | pH 6.0–6.5 | pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
VegetablesBrassica napus subsp. rapifera
Rutabaga is a cool-season root crop from the cabbage family that does best in full sun and is usually sown in summer for a fall harvest. Estimates for root maturity range from 60 to 110 days.
How to grow rutabagaVegetablesBrassica oleracea var. viridis
Collards are cool-season leafy greens grown in full sun, usually from direct-sown seed in spring or fall, with harvest about 60 to 80 days after sowing.
How to grow collard greensKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Rutabaga vs. Collard Greens vs. Acorn SquashAdd acorn squash as a third
Rutabaga vs. Collard Greens vs. Armenian CucumberAdd armenian cucumber as a third
Rutabaga vs. Collard Greens vs. ArtichokeAdd artichoke as a thirdRutabaga vs. Acorn SquashRutabaga against another vegetableCollard Greens vs. Acorn SquashCollard Greens against another vegetableRutabaga vs. Armenian CucumberRutabaga against another vegetableThe table, row by row
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
