
Collard Greens
- Botanical Name
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala
- Height
- 18 to 36 inches
- Width
- 12 to 24 inches
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained
- Planting & Care
- Collard greens grows better in warm weather and tolerate cold fall temperatures better than other cole crops
- For spring crops, start plants indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost date, transplant outdoors when seedlings are about 6 weeks old
- Space transplants 12 to 18 inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart
- Seed fall crops about 3 months before the expected fall frost
- Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 deep, 1 inch apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart, thin seedlings to 12 to 18 inches
- Mulch overwintering plants
- Use a floating row cover to prevent insect problems
- To help prevent disease, do not plant cole crops in the same location more than once every 3 to 4 years
- Like other cole crops, frost improves the flavor in fall
- All parts of the plant are edible and can be harvested anytime during the growing season
- Harvest the outermost leaves when they reach 10 to 12 inches, leave the smaller younger inner leaves to develop
- Problems
- Cabbage worms, aphids, cutworm, slugs, flea beetles, clubroot, black rot
- Varieties
- Green Glaze - green waxy leaves provide some protection from cabbage worms
- Blue Max - upright plants, slightly savoyed leaves, mild flavor
- Georgia Southern - 2 to 3 feet, tender blue-green ruffled leaves
- Champion - short stems, long broad, wavy leaves, slow to bolt, good winter hardiness
Categories
Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars
Feb. 7-9, 2025
PBS Wisconsin's
Garden & Green Living Expo
Madison, WI
Feb. 12, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Organic Insect Pest Management for Vegetable and Flower Gardens
Register here
Feb. 14-16, 2025
NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show
West Allis, WI
Feb. 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Strategies for Managing Invasive Plants
Register here
Feb. 26, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Create a Beautiful Shade Garden
Register here
Feb. 27, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
How to Select Rain Garden Plants
Register here
March 12, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Grow Pollinator-friendly Spring and Summer Flowering Bulbs
Register here
March 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Register here
March 22, 23, 29, 30, 2025
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, WI
March 26, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Succession Planting & Crop Rotation
Register here
March 27, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Rain Garden Q & A
Register here
April 2, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Container Gardens for Sun & Shade
Register here
April 10, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Reinvigorate Your Rain Garden
Register here
May 7, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Vertical Gardening
Register here
May 15, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
7 Steps to Managing Water on Your Property
Register here
June 4, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Attracting Hummingbirds
Register here
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Learn More