When can I plant collard greens outside?

Direct sow or transplant 4 weeks before your last spring frost.

How long until collard greens is ready to harvest?

55-75 days. Harvest lower leaves when 10-12 inches long; leaves darken and toughen with age; frost improves flavor

When to Plant Collard Greens

Brassica oleracea var. viridis

leafy_greenZones 6–11beginner

Southern cooking staple with large, sturdy leaves. More heat-tolerant than most brassicas. Cold-hardy enough to survive zone 6 winters with mulch.

Planting calendar

Direct sow / transplant

4 weeks before your last spring frost.

Fall planting

8 weeks before your first fall frost.

Can handle summer heat better than most greens; flavor sweetens after frost

Spacing & harvest

Plant spacing: 18-24 inches
Row spacing: 24-36 inches
Days to harvest: 55-75 days
Ready when: Harvest lower leaves when 10-12 inches long; leaves darken and toughen with age; frost improves flavor

Companion planting

Plant near

Onion — Deters cabbage pests
Dill — Attracts beneficial wasps

Keep away from

Strawberry — Brassicas inhibit strawberry growth

Get collard greens planting dates for your exact zone

Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.

Get your free plan

Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns