Cool-season produce

Collard greens

Brassica oleracea Acephala Group

Also known as Collards

A leafy brassica with a long harvest period; take older leaves from below and leave the center growing.

EdibleCool-season crop

Growing spaceVegetable bed

Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Crop familyBrassicaceae (mustard)

Life cycleAnnual crop

Phoenix planting windowSeptember–February; fall establishment is easiest.

How to plantDirect sow seed or transplant.

Plant spacing12–18 in

FrostTolerates light frost once established; cover during a hard freeze.

Time to harvestAbout 80 days for mature leaves

SuccessionOne planting provides repeated leaf harvests.

Special categoriesEDIBLE

Typical harvestPick outer leaves through winter.

Right plant, right place

Will Collard greens grow at your Arizona property?

A leafy brassica with a long harvest period; take older leaves from below and leave the center growing.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Full winter sun; give leafy crops afternoon protection during warm fall and spring weather.

Water

Keep the vegetable root zone evenly moist with regular irrigation; adjust to rain, soil, and temperature rather than using a fixed summer schedule.

Planting & stewardship

1
Prepare a fertile, well-drained bed and keep seed or transplants evenly moist through establishment.
2
Thin to the final spacing; crowding reduces harvest quality.
3
Watch for aphids and caterpillars and protect sensitive growth from a hard freeze.
4
Harvest before sustained spring heat causes bolting or poor quality.

Read the growing reference ↗ Planting dates can shift with cultivar, weather, and your yard’s microclimate.