Collards: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates
Plant count & yield calculator
Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.
Enter bed size to count plants.
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Seed starting dates
Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Collards with this frost date : start indoors ~Mar 25, direct sow ~Mar 18 .
Pick a last frost date for the schedule.
Your result
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Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
About collards
Collards are the most heat-tolerant brassica, producing large, thick leaves for Southern-style braising, wraps, and smoothies across a long harvest window.
Spacing & yield
Collards wants 18×24 inches and about 2 lb per plant at ~75 days to maturity.
Growing tips
- Harvest lower leaves progressively, working up the stem — plants grow 2-3 feet tall over time.
- Collards handle both frost and moderate heat, making them a nearly year-round crop in mild climates.
- Side-dress with nitrogen midseason since large leaves are nutrient-hungry.
- Direct sow 4 weeks before last frost or start transplants 3 weeks ahead.
Common mistakes
- Harvesting from the top, damaging the growing point and stunting further production.
- Under-spacing below 18 inches, restricting the large leaf spread.
- Ignoring cabbage worms, which love collard leaves as much as any brassica.
Harvest & storage
Snap lower leaves when they reach dinner-plate size, starting about 75 days from sowing.
Refrigerate unwashed for up to 10 days; blanch and freeze for longer storage.
Companion planting
Good neighbors for collards: onions, garlic, potatoes, thyme, dill. Avoid planting beside: strawberries, tomatoes.
Planting calendar
Start indoors about 3 weeks before last frost. Direct sow is also an option around 4 weeks before frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).
Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.
Frequently asked questions
- How far apart should collards be planted?
- Space 18 inches in-row with 24 inches between rows to accommodate their large spreading leaves.
- How much does one collard plant produce?
- A single plant yields about 2 lb of leaves over its extended harvest period.
- How long do collards take to mature?
- First leaves are large enough to harvest at about 75 days, with production continuing for months.