Champion Collards
Brassica oleracea var. viridis 'Champion'
A heat and cold tolerant hybrid collard that produces large, smooth, blue-green leaves perfect for traditional Southern cooking. This variety is exceptionally slow to bolt and continues producing tender leaves through both summer heat and winter cold, making it ideal for year-round harvests in mild climates.
Harvest
60-75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
6–9
USDA hardiness
Height
10-24 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Champion Collards in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 brassica →Zone Map
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Champion Collards · Zones 6–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | May – June | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January – January | February – March | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | January – March | March – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits dry and split when ripe.
Color: Brown/Copper, Green. Type: Siliqua. Length: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
Edibility: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Champion collard leaves store best in the refrigerator wrapped in damp paper towels inside plastic bags, maintaining quality for 5-7 days. Don't wash leaves until ready to use, as excess moisture accelerates decay.
For longer storage, blanch whole leaves in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then shock in ice water before freezing in airtight containers. Frozen collards maintain nutritional value for 10-12 months and work perfectly for cooked dishes. Remove thick stems before freezing to save space and improve texture.
Dehydrating works well for collard chips—remove stems, massage leaves with oil and salt, then dehydrate at 115°F for 6-8 hours. Properly dried collard chips stay crisp for several months in airtight containers. Lacto-fermentation creates tangy preserved collards that last 3-4 months refrigerated and adds beneficial probiotics.
History & Origin
Champion collards represent modern breeding success in improving traditional Southern greens. Developed in the 1980s by commercial seed companies seeking a collard variety that could withstand both extreme heat and cold while maintaining tenderness, Champion emerged from crosses between heat-tolerant European kale varieties and cold-hardy American collard landraces.
This hybrid was specifically bred to address the main complaints about traditional collards: excessive bitterness, rapid bolting in heat, and tough texture. The smooth-leaf trait came from European parentage, while the remarkable temperature tolerance traces back to Southern heirloom varieties that survived generations of extreme weather.
The variety gained commercial success in the 1990s as both home gardeners and commercial growers recognized its extended harvest season and improved eating quality. Champion helped modernize collard growing beyond traditional Southern boundaries, making these nutritious greens accessible to gardeners in diverse climates who previously struggled with older, less adaptable varieties.
Advantages
- +Attracts: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.
- +Wildlife value: It serves as a host plant for butterflies, moths, flies, sawflies and beetles.
- +Edible: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Nasturtiums
Trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, repels cucumber beetles
Marigolds
Repel cabbage worms, aphids, and other brassica pests
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms
Onions
Repel cabbage maggots, aphids, and other soil-dwelling pests
Garlic
Natural fungicide properties, repels aphids and cabbage loopers
Carrots
Improve soil structure, attract beneficial insects, compatible root depths
Lettuce
Efficient space usage as ground cover, similar nutrient requirements
Thyme
Repels cabbage worms and flea beetles through aromatic compounds
Keep Apart
Tomatoes
Compete for nutrients and may stunt collard growth through root competition
Strawberries
Both are heavy feeders competing for similar nutrients, especially nitrogen
Pole Beans
May shade collards excessively and compete for growing space
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170406)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good heat and cold tolerance, slow to bolt
Common Pests
Cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, harlequin bugs
Diseases
Black rot, clubroot, downy mildew