Description

Collard Greens are a hardy leafy vegetable known for their large, smooth, blue-green leaves and rich, slightly earthy flavor. A staple in Southern cooking, they are commonly slow-cooked but can also be harvested young for tender salads or sautéed dishes.

This vigorous cool-season crop is highly productive and extremely cold-tolerant, often improving in flavor after exposure to frost. It produces continuous harvests over an extended season when leaves are picked regularly.

• Type: Open-pollinated biennial (grown as an annual)
• Direct sow: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest
• Sun: Full sun
• Spacing: 18–24 inches
• Height: 24–36 inches
• Days to harvest: 60–80 days

Collards grow best in cool weather and fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Sow seeds directly or transplant starts, and keep soil consistently moist for best growth. Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage continued production. Flavor improves after light frost exposure.

Additional information