How to grow Collards
Brassica oleracea (Viridis)
Tough, forgiving greens that take heat and cold.
Collards are the most forgiving brassica — they shrug off both summer heat and hard frost, and a few plants give greens for months. Pick outer leaves and they keep coming.
Grow Collards with step-by-step help for your exact yard.
Start free in Seededly →Collards at a glance
| Sun | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.0 |
| Spacing | 18 in |
| Harvest | 55–75 days |
| Plant | Spring & fall |
| Note | Takes heat & frost |
How to grow Collards, step by step
Sow or transplant
- Direct-sow or set transplants in spring or late summer.
- Space 18 in in rich soil.
Keep it fed
- Steady nitrogen and water grow big, tender leaves.
- Mulch to hold moisture.
Pick & come again
- Harvest outer leaves; the center keeps producing for months.
- Frost sweetens the flavor.
Collards problems & fixes
Collards — Holes in leaves: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Cabbage worms. Net the bed; use Bt.
Collards — Aphid clusters: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Blast with water; encourage beneficials.
Collards — Yellow lower leaves: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Often just age or hunger. Pick old leaves; feed nitrogen.
Recommended collards varieties
- Georgia Southern — All-rounder. Big, tender, heat- and cold-tolerant.
- Champion — Compact. Slower to bolt; uniform leaves.
- Morris Heading — Loose head. Forms a loose head of tender leaves.
Collards month-by-month
| January | Overwintered greens. |
|---|---|
| February | Plan beds. |
| March | Sow/transplant spring. |
| April | Leaves grow fast. |
| May | Spring harvest. |
| June | Tolerates summer heat. |
| July | Keep picking. |
| August | Sow for fall. |
| September | Fall leaves grow. |
| October | Sweet after frost. |
| November | Harvest into cold. |
| December | Overwinter in mild areas. |