What Is the Difference in Broccoli & Collard Green Leaves?

Collards

• The leaves of collard greens are large, flat and oval-shaped. The deep green foliage has pale veins. The leaves grow in a rosette pattern around a main stem. Depending on the variety, collards may have smooth or wavy leaves. The plants need a consistent supply of moisture to produce well.

Harvest

• Harvest collard leaves weekly, when the plants reach between 6 to 12 inches tall. Collect the older leaves, or collect the center of the plant and younger leaves called a "loose head," suggests the University of Illinois Extension website. Young leaves have more tender stalks, but you can cut away the tough stems from older leaves. Frost improves the flavor of the leaves. Collard greens store well. The extension website suggests wrapping the leaves in moistened paper towels before storing them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Collards do not have a strong flavor.

Broccoli Types

• Heading broccoli forms large leaves with scalloped edges and pale veins. Italian sprouting broccoli (Brassica rapa), also called broccoli raab, comes in both fall and spring strains. The leaves look like heading broccoli or turnip leaves and have scalloped edges. Leaf broccoli, also known as spigariello, has blue-green leaves. Depending on the strain, the plants may develop curly leaves with wavy edges or flat leaves with smooth edges. The leaves are narrower than those of heading broccoli, are arranged around a main stem and reach 3 to 4 feet tall. Leaf broccoli plants are pest-resistant, according to the Veggie Gardening Tips website.

Harvest

• The leaves of heading broccoli are usually discarded in favor of the plant's center flower bud clusters. When you harvest heading broccoli, leave the foliage on the plants in order to help the plants produce more shoots and extend your harvest, recommends the Ohio State University Extension website. Collect the immature seed heads along with the leaves when harvesting Italian sprouting broccoli. This type of broccoli has a sharper flavor than heading broccoli. Harvest individual leaves or whole stems of leaf broccoli.