Champion Collard is a dependable heirloom-style collard that has earned its reputation through decades of reliable performance. Producing large, dark blue-green leaves with broad white stems, this improved selection offers outstanding heat tolerance, cold hardiness, and exceptional disease resistance. Champion is slower to bolt than many older collard varieties, allowing gardeners to enjoy tender, flavorful harvests over an extended growing season. Whether grown in spring, fall, or through mild southern winters, Champion consistently produces abundant harvests of nutritious greens that improve in flavor after light frosts.
Why Grow Champion Collards?
Champion is one of the easiest leafy vegetables to grow, making it an excellent choice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. Plants tolerate a wide range of weather conditions and continue producing fresh leaves for months with regular harvesting. Unlike head-forming cabbage, Champion continually replaces harvested foliage, allowing gardeners to enjoy repeated harvests from a single planting. Its vigorous growth, dependable yields, and outstanding flavor have made it a favorite among home gardeners, market growers, and Southern cooks for generations.
Flavor Profile
Champion offers the rich, earthy flavor that collards are famous for, but with noticeably milder bitterness than many older varieties. Young leaves are tender enough for fresh salads and wraps, while mature leaves develop a deep, savory flavor perfect for slow cooking. Frost sweetens the leaves by converting stored starches into sugars, making fall and winter harvests especially delicious.
Growing Information
- Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. viridis
- Plant Type: Hardy biennial grown as an annual
- Days to Harvest: Approximately 65-75 days
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Rich, fertile, well-drained soil
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
- Plant Height: 24-36 inches
- Plant Spread: 24-30 inches
- Spacing: 18-24 inches
- Water: About 1 inch per week
Champion thrives in cool weather but demonstrates excellent heat tolerance compared to many leafy greens. Sow directly in spring or late summer for fall crops. Harvest lower leaves continuously while allowing the center growing point to remain intact for months of production.
Harvest & Storage
Harvest outer leaves whenever they reach usable size, beginning with the oldest leaves first. Frequent harvesting encourages vigorous new growth throughout the season. Leaves remain tender even after reaching full size. Freshly harvested greens store well in the refrigerator for up to one week and can be blanched and frozen for long-term preservation without significant loss of flavor or nutrition.
Vates Collard is one of the most dependable and widely grown open-pollinated collard varieties available. Originally developed by the Virginia Truck Experiment Station—whose name gives this variety its acronym, "VATES"—it has become a favorite among gardeners and commercial growers for its compact growth, excellent cold tolerance, and consistently tender, flavorful leaves. The attractive blue-green foliage forms an upright, non-heading rosette that allows for easy harvesting throughout the season. Whether grown for fresh eating, traditional Southern cooking, or nutritious homegrown greens, Vates delivers reliable harvests with very little maintenance.
Why Grow Vates Collards?
Vates is prized for its exceptional adaptability and productivity. Unlike larger collard varieties, its compact plants fit comfortably into raised beds, small gardens, and even large patio containers. Plants remain productive over a long harvest window and are slower to bolt than many older varieties, making them an excellent choice for both spring and fall gardens. Gardeners appreciate Vates for its dependable yields, attractive foliage, and outstanding flavor that improves after cool autumn weather.
Flavor Profile
Vates produces smooth, tender leaves with a pleasantly mild, earthy flavor that contains less bitterness than many traditional collards. Young leaves are sweet enough for fresh salads and wraps, while mature foliage develops the rich, savory taste that makes collards famous in Southern kitchens. After exposure to light frost, the leaves become noticeably sweeter as natural sugars concentrate within the plant.
Growing Information
- Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. viridis
- Plant Type: Hardy biennial grown as an annual
- Days to Harvest: Approximately 70-80 days
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
- Plant Height: 20-24 inches
- Plant Spread: 18-24 inches
- Spacing: 18 inches apart
- Water: Maintain consistent moisture for tender leaves
Vates performs best in cool weather but also tolerates moderate summer heat when adequately watered. Direct sow or transplant in early spring or late summer for abundant fall harvests. Harvest the oldest outer leaves first while leaving the growing center intact to encourage months of continuous production.
Harvest & Storage
Leaves may be harvested individually as needed once they reach usable size. Continuous harvesting stimulates fresh growth, allowing a single planting to remain productive for an extended period. Fresh collards store well in the refrigerator for approximately one week. For long-term storage, blanch leaves briefly before freezing to preserve their flavor, texture, and nutritional value.
Georgia Southern Collards are one of the most beloved heirloom collard varieties ever grown, treasured for generations throughout the American South for their outstanding flavor, exceptional heat tolerance, and remarkable productivity. This vigorous, open-pollinated variety produces large, smooth, blue-green leaves with broad white stems that remain tender even as they mature. Well adapted to both warm summers and cool autumn weather, Georgia Southern has become the standard by which many other collard varieties are judged. Whether harvested young for fresh greens or fully mature for traditional Southern cooking, this dependable heirloom delivers abundant harvests over a long growing season.
Why Grow This Variety?
Georgia Southern is prized for its reliability, adaptability, and outstanding eating quality. Plants grow vigorously in a wide range of climates and continue producing fresh leaves for months when harvested regularly. This variety performs exceptionally well in southern gardens where summer heat can challenge many leafy vegetables, yet it also develops a sweeter flavor after exposure to cool fall temperatures and light frosts. Gardeners appreciate its easy care, dependable yields, and ability to provide fresh greens from a single planting throughout much of the growing season.
Flavor Profile
Georgia Southern offers the rich, hearty flavor that has made collards a Southern favorite for centuries. Young leaves are pleasantly mild with only slight bitterness, while mature foliage develops a full-bodied, earthy taste ideal for slow cooking. Cool autumn temperatures and light frosts naturally sweeten the leaves, creating an even richer, more balanced flavor.
Growing Information
- Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. viridis
- Plant Type: Hardy biennial grown as an annual
- Days to Harvest: Approximately 70-80 days
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
- Plant Height: 24-36 inches
- Plant Spread: 24-30 inches
- Spacing: 18-24 inches apart
- Water: Approximately 1 inch per week
Georgia Southern grows best in cool weather but demonstrates excellent tolerance to summer heat. Sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring or late summer for fall and winter harvests. Harvest the oldest outer leaves first while allowing the center growing point to continue producing fresh foliage for months.
Harvest & Storage
Harvest individual leaves as they reach usable size, beginning with the lower outer leaves. Continuous harvesting promotes vigorous new growth and extends the productive season. Fresh leaves store well in the refrigerator for up to one week and freeze exceptionally well after blanching, making them an excellent choice for preserving homegrown greens.
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