How to grow Collards in Australia
Collards (collard greens) are a loose-leaf member of the cabbage family, grown for big, smooth, blue-green leaves that are cooked like kale or cabbage. They tolerate both heat and cold better than most brassicas, crop for months if you pick the lower leaves, and the leaves sweeten after frost. Grow them like kale, and net them against caterpillars.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Collards in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | February to August | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | February to August | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | February to August | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to September | Sow Mar to Sep as for kale. Frost hardy, and the leaves sweeten in the cold. Net against cabbage white butterfly. |
| Adelaide & SA | March to September | Sow Mar to Sep like kale. Pick leaves through winter; plants bolt when the heat returns. |
| Perth & WA | February to September | Trays from mid Feb in bright shade, plant out Mar to May, and sow direct Mar to Sep like kale. |
| Tasmania | September to February | Sow Sep to Feb as for kale. Dec to Feb sowings give the main autumn and winter crop, and frost sweetens the leaves. |
| Canberra & ACT | August to October, January to March | Sow Jan to Mar for winter leaves; frost sweetens them. Sow Aug to Oct for a spring crop. |
| North Queensland | May to August | Dry season May to Aug. The most heat tolerant of the cabbage tribe but still a dry season crop here. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Dry season May to Aug. The most heat tolerant of the cabbage tribe but still a dry season crop here. |
Where to plant
Grow collards in full sun in firm, rich, well-drained soil with compost dug in, and lime acid soil, as for other brassicas. They cope with heat and cold better than most of the cabbage family; mature plants withstand frost, which sweetens the leaves. Rotate beds with crops outside the cabbage family to avoid clubroot.
They are at their best in the cool months, and bolt when hot weather returns in spring.
- Melbourne and Adelaide: sow from March to September, as for kale.
- Perth: start trays from mid February in bright shade and plant out from March to May, or sow direct from March to September.
- Sydney, South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from February to August.
- Hobart: sow from September to February; December to February sowings give the main autumn and winter crop.
- Canberra: sow from January to March for winter leaves, and from August to October for a spring crop.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season, May to August. They are the most heat-tolerant of the cabbage family but still a dry-season crop there.
Choosing a variety
- Georgia Southern is an heirloom variety introduced in the 1880s.
- Champion is a productive, hardy variety that resists bolting, which helps with spring sowings.
How to plant
- Sow seed about 1 cm deep in punnets or direct, and keep moist.
- Plant out or thin to about 45 cm apart once seedlings have a few true leaves.
- Firm the soil around each plant, water in and mulch.
- Cover with fine insect netting to keep cabbage white butterflies off.
Watering and feeding
Water deeply and regularly; steady moisture keeps the leaves tender and mild. Feed every few weeks with a nitrogen-rich liquid fertiliser to keep new leaves coming, especially after heavy picking.
Pruning and care through the year
- Keep netting on through the warm months when butterflies are active.
- Pick regularly to keep plants productive.
- Remove yellowing lower leaves.
Harvesting
Start picking about 8 to 11 weeks after sowing. Break off the lower, outer leaves while they are young and tender, working up the stem over time, and take only a few leaves from each plant at a time, no more than about a third, so it can recover. The plant keeps producing from the top for months.
Collards keep a few days in the fridge in a plastic bag.
Growing in pots
Collards grow well in a pot at least 30 cm wide and deep with a rich potting mix. Water regularly and feed every couple of weeks.
Using it
- Remove the tough centre rib, then slice and cook the leaves: braise, sauté, add to soups and stews, or steam them.
- Young leaves can be shredded finely and used raw.
Companion planting
Collards share the companions of other brassicas: herbs and flowers that bring in helpful insects, and low crops that use different space.
Good companions
- Dill Its flowers feed tiny parasitic wasps and hoverflies that attack caterpillars and aphids.
- Nasturtium A sacrificial plant that draws aphids and cabbage white butterflies away from the crop.
- Onion Narrow plants that fit between collards without competing for space.
- Beetroot A root crop that uses different space in the bed.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to collards.
- Strawberry Traditionally kept away from the cabbage family.
- Tomato A warm-season crop with different timing and feeding needs.
Pests and diseases
Caterpillars and aphids are the main pests, as on all brassicas. Netting from planting is the most reliable control.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage moth Holes chewed in leaves and green caterpillars underneath, from cabbage white butterfly, cabbage moth and diamondback moth. Net plants.
- Aphids Grey, waxy colonies under leaves, especially in spring.
Diseases to watch for
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with grey-white fuzz underneath in cool, damp weather.
- Clubroot Plants wilt on warm days and the roots are swollen and distorted. Lime acid soil and rotate brassica beds.
Common questions
What are collard greens?
A loose-leaf member of the cabbage family, closely related to kale, grown for its large, smooth leaves. They are a traditional cooked green in the southern United States.
How do you harvest collards so they keep growing?
Pick the lower leaves first, working up the plant, and take only a few at a time, no more than about a third of the leaves. The plant keeps growing from the top for months.
Are collards heat tolerant?
More than most brassicas. They cope with both heat and cold, though they still grow best in the cool months and bolt when hot weather returns.
When should I plant collards?
In most areas, from late summer to early spring. In Hobart and Canberra, sow in summer for autumn and winter leaves. In the tropics, sow in the dry season. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
What is the difference between collards and kale?
They are close relatives grown the same way. Collards have large, flat, smooth leaves, while most kales have curly or crinkled leaves.
How long do collards take to grow?
You can usually start picking about 8 to 11 weeks after sowing, and keep picking for months.
Sources we checked: NC State Extension: Collard greens; Clemson HGIC: Collards; University of Minnesota Extension: Growing collards and kale; Texas A&M AgriLife: Collard greens (Easy Gardening).