Growing Georgia Southern Collard Greens in Your Garden

Georgia Southern collard greens are a beloved staple in home gardens across the country. Known for their tender leaves, mild flavor, and impressive cold hardiness, these greens thrive in most growing conditions and reward gardeners with abundant harvests. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, collards are an excellent choice for your vegetable patch.

Why Choose Georgia Southern Collards?

Georgia Southern collards stand out for their reliability and productivity. These plants produce large, blue-green leaves that remain tender even as they mature, making them perfect for cooking or fresh use. They're also remarkably cold-tolerant, often improving in flavor after a light frost. This makes them ideal for fall and winter gardening in many regions.

Planting Your Collards

Start Georgia Southern collards from seeds directly in your garden bed or begin indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your planting date. These greens prefer full sun—at least 6 hours daily—and well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart to allow room for growth. Plant in early spring for a summer harvest, or in mid-summer for a fall and winter crop.

Watering and Care

Keep your collard plants consistently moist, providing about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week through rainfall or irrigation. Mulch around the base of plants to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. Feed with a balanced fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks to support vigorous leaf growth. Watch for common pests like cabbage worms and use row covers or organic pest management as needed.

Harvesting Your Greens

You can begin harvesting outer leaves once plants reach 12 inches tall, typically 50 to 60 days after planting. Pick leaves from the bottom up, allowing the center to continue growing. Regular harvesting encourages more leaf production throughout the season. For the most tender leaves, harvest in the morning after the dew has dried.

Enjoying Your Harvest

Georgia Southern collards are versatile in the kitchen. Steam, sauté, or braise them with your favorite seasonings. Their mild flavor pairs well with garlic, onions, and bacon. Store fresh leaves in the refrigerator for up to a week, or blanch and freeze for longer storage.

• This is the traditional Collard Green variety popularly grown in the south
  
  - These plants produce large yields of dark blue-green cabbage-like leaves
  
  - Tolerates heat, humidity, and poor soil conditions
  
  
• Days to Maturity | 75 day
  
  
• Collards | Plant seeds 3 to 4 weeks before your first frost for Spring harvest. Sow seeds approximately 12" from one another.
  
  Click here for complete Collards grow guide

Additional Details

Collard is widely considered to be a healthy food, collards are good sources of vitamin C and soluble fiber and contain multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties, such as diindolylmethane and sulforaphane.[citation needed] Roughly a quarter pound (approx. 100 g) of cooked collards contains 46 calories.