Organic Champion Collards
Collards are incredible. You don’t have to wait until they are huge to harvest and make a “mess of greens.” I use the massive leaves in place of a tortilla as a gluten free wrap or harvest baby leaf and treat them like cabbage.
JOY MAX QUALITIES:
Their giant round leaves are gorgeous in the garden. With the right conditions, they will grow up to 3’ tall so make sure you give them plenty of space.
One or two plants will be enough to feed a family of four.
Can be grown as baby leaf or full size. Beginning about 2 months after planting, harvest by clipping individual leaves.
Selected to hold in the field up to two weeks longer than other varieties for an extended harvest.
Bolt-resistant, productive and hardy. A cool season plant that will endure into summer if planted where it will get shade in the afternoon.
Waxy leaf surface provides natural protection from cabbage worms.
Champion' is a stabilized selection of 'Vates' collards developed and introduced by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station in 1979.
Basic Growing Information
Since collards grow so large, they need soil that will support their foot-long roots. Fertile, rich, and deep. Direct sow 1/4” deep 4” apart (eventually thin or carefully move seedlings to 18” apart.) Keep soil moist until germination and protect from squirrels. You may want to start collards indoors and set out just to protect the seedlings from squirrel interference or from snails getting them. Since you only need one or two though, you can always just plant more seeds than you need and then thin the ones that make it to 18” apart. If starting seeds indoors, use a heat mat to speed germination. Seedlings should be ready to transplant in 4-6 weeks. Alternatively, start them in a trusty fruit container and move them outside in the container once they’ve sprouted. Transfer to the garden once they have their true leaves and seem mature enough to handle the transition. Water them in with seaweed water and keep them protected and babied until they are strong.
If you want to mostly eat the leaves when they are small, you can treat them like cabbage and grow it as a baby leaf.