Collard Greens 'Georgia Southern'
Brassica oleracea var. acephala 'Georgia Southern'
The quintessential Southern collard green variety, prized for its large, blue-green leaves that become sweet and tender after cooking. This heat-tolerant heirloom thrives in hot summers when other greens bolt, and actually improves in flavor after frost. A must-have for traditional Southern cooking and an excellent source of nutrition for the home garden year-round.
Harvest
60-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
6–9
USDA hardiness
Height
10-24 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Collard Greens 'Georgia Southern' in USDA Zone 7
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Collard Greens 'Georgia Southern' · 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 Georgia Southern collards keep best when stored unwashed in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator's crisper drawer at 32-40°F with high humidity. They'll maintain quality for 7-10 days, longer than most other greens.
For freezing, blanch clean, chopped leaves in boiling water for 2 minutes, then plunge into ice water. Drain thoroughly and pack in freezer bags for up to 12 months. The thick leaves freeze exceptionally well and maintain their structure for traditional braised dishes.
Fermenting is another excellent preservation method—chop leaves and pack in salt brine (2% by weight) for a tangy, probiotic-rich condiment similar to sauerkraut. Properly fermented collards keep 6+ months refrigerated. You can also dehydrate young, tender leaves for adding to soups and stews year-round, though this works best with leaves harvested before the first frost when they're less bitter.
History & Origin
Georgia Southern collards represent one of the oldest continuously grown vegetable varieties in the American South, with genetic lineage tracing back to wild cabbages brought by European colonists in the 1600s. The variety was developed through generations of selection by Southern farmers and enslaved people who recognized its exceptional heat tolerance and ability to produce food year-round when other crops failed.
By the 1800s, 'Georgia Southern' had become the standard collard variety across the Deep South, particularly prized for its ability to withstand both summer heat and winter cold that would kill other brassicas. The variety's cultural significance extends far beyond gardening—it became a cornerstone of Southern cuisine and African American foodways, often called 'the poor man's medicine' for its exceptional nutritional density.
This heirloom was formally recognized and preserved by Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and other heritage seed companies in the 1980s, ensuring its genetic stability for future generations. Today, it remains the benchmark against which all other collard varieties are measured for authenticity in traditional Southern cooking.
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
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cabbage worms, repels cucumber beetles
Marigolds
Repels cabbage moths, aphids, and other brassica pests with strong scent
Onions
Repels cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles that commonly attack collards
Garlic
Deters cabbage loopers and aphids, improves overall plant health
Dill
Attracts beneficial wasps that parasitize cabbage worms and aphids
Carrots
Deep roots don't compete with shallow collard roots, helps break up soil
Lettuce
Grows in collard shade, efficient space usage, similar water needs
Spinach
Compatible growth habits, harvested before collards need full space
Keep Apart
Tomatoes
Compete for nutrients, tomatoes may inhibit collard growth through allelopathy
Strawberries
Different water and nutrient requirements, may stunt collard growth
Pole Beans
Can shade collards excessively and compete for nitrogen
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170406)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to heat stress and bolting
Common Pests
Cabbage worms, flea beetles, aphids, harlequin bugs
Diseases
Black rot, clubroot, downy mildew, bacterial leaf spot