Collards — Brassica oleracea var. viridis

layout: base.njk title: Collards description: Growing Collards in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: cool-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Collard greens with large smooth dark green leaves

Type: Biennial (grown as annual)
Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
Sun: Full sun to part shade (6+ hours, tolerates afternoon shade)
Water: Moderate (1-1.5" per week, consistent moisture)
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5 (tolerates wider range than most brassicas)
Hardiness: Zones 3-11 (extremely heat and cold tolerant)

🌱 Expected Yield

Per plant: 1-2 lbs per harvest (outer leaves, continuous harvest). Full plant (terminal harvest): 2-4 lbs.
Per 10' row: 15-25 lbs sustained harvest over season. With overwintering: 20-35 lbs per 10' row annually.
Per season: With succession planting and overwintering: 30-50 lbs per 10' row (nearly year-round in mild winters with protection).

🏺 Heirloom Varieties (5-10+)

'Georgia' (Georgia Southern)

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com), Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (southernexposure.com)
Days: 65 days
Notes: Classic Southern heirloom, standard by which other collards are judged. Large, blue-green, paddle-shaped leaves. Extremely heat tolerant. Cold hardy to 10°F. Sweetens with frost. Traditional for Southern-style collards. Robust, productive.

'Top Bunch'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
Days: 58 days
Notes: Early-maturing heirloom. V-shaped, blue-green leaves. Compact, upright habit (doesn't sprawl). Cold hardy. Tender, mild flavor. Good for smaller gardens. Faster than Georgia type. Popular in Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

'Morris Heading'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
Days: 60 days
Notes: Southern heirloom from North Carolina. Large, broad leaves that "head" or bunch at top (unusual for collards). Blue-green color. Cold and heat tolerant. Mild, sweet flavor. Productive and reliable. Named for tendency to form loose head.

'Alabama Blue'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
Days: 62 days
Notes: Southern heirloom. Distinctive blue-purple coloration, especially in cool weather. Large, paddle-shaped leaves. Cold hardy, heat tolerant. Beautiful ornamental value. Mild, sweet flavor. Purple intensifies with frost.

'Vates'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
Days: 60 days
Notes: Dwarf variety, compact habit (12-18" tall). Blue-green, curly-edged leaves. Cold hardy. Good for containers and small spaces. Tender, mild flavor. Less sprawling than standard types. Reliable producer.

'Champion'

Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Burpee (burpee.com)
Days: 60 days
Notes: Hybrid, F1. Large, blue-green, paddle-shaped leaves. Uniform, vigorous growth. Cold and heat tolerant. High yield. Mild flavor, tender texture. Slow to bolt. Popular with market growers for consistency.

'Ole Timey Blue'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
Days: 65 days
Notes: Southern heirloom passed down through generations. Blue-green leaves with thick stems. Extremely hardy—survives harsh winters with mulch. Traditional strong flavor (more bitter when mature, sweetens with frost). Heritage variety with cultural significance.

'Green Glaze'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
Days: 60 days
Notes: Unique heirloom with glossy, smooth leaves (lacks typical brassica hairiness). Light green color. Unusual appearance—looks almost plasticky. Cold hardy, heat tolerant. Mild, sweet flavor. Pest-resistant (smooth surface deters some insects). Conversation piece in garden.

'Auburn'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
Days: 63 days
Notes: Southern heirloom developed in Alabama. Large, blue-green leaves. Cold hardy, heat tolerant. Upright habit. Sweet, mild flavor. Reliable yield. Good for fresh eating and cooking.

'Bulldog'

Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Southern Exposure
Days: 70 days
Notes: Hybrid, F1. Thick, paddle-shaped, blue-green leaves. Extremely heat tolerant. Cold hardy. Uniform growth, high yield. Standard for commercial production in Southeast. Holds well in field. Mild, tender when cooked.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: Collards are biennial— require vernalization (cold period) to flower. Leave healthiest plants in ground over winter (mulch heavily with straw/leaves) or dig and store in cool, humid place (root cellar), replanting in spring. In spring, plants send up 4-6' flower stalks with clusters of yellow, four-petaled cruciform flowers.

Bees and insects pollinate heavily. Seed pods (siliques) form 4-6 weeks after flowering, turning from green to tan/brown when mature. Cut stalks when most pods are brown but before shattering.

Hang in paper bags or on tarps in dry, ventilated area 2-3 weeks. Thresh by beating bags or rolling stalks with garden roller. Winnow by pouring between bowls in light breeze to separate seeds from chaff. - Isolation distance: 2 miles minimum (up to 5 miles for pure seed).

Collards cross-pollinate readily with other Brassica oleracea varieties (kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi—all same species). For pure seed, grow only one B. oleracea variety or cage isolated plants with netting and hand-pollinate. - Viability: 4-5 years when stored in cool, dry, dark conditions in airtight containers.

Medium-sized seeds store well. - Special notes: Save seed from minimum 5-10 plants to maintain genetic diversity. Select for cold hardiness, heat tolerance, flavor, leaf quality, bolt resistance. In zone 6b/7a, fall-planted collards will naturally vernalize and flower in spring if left in ground.

Choose plants that survived winter best for seed stock. Some varieties bolt more easily—avoid saving seed from prematurely bolting plants. Collards can be grown as annuals for harvest but must be treated as biennials for seed saving..

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead