Georgia Southern, or Creole Collard, is a pre-1880 heirloom that earned its place in American gardens through sheer reliability and abundance. This frost-hardy Brassica thrives across zones 5-10, producing a generous harvest of large, tender leaves in just 75-85 days. Whether you garden in the Deep South or the northern reaches of zone 5, this variety handles both heat and cold with equal composure, making it one of the most adaptable collards you can grow.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-10
6in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The 1921 J.J. Wilson Seed Company catalog recognized what gardeners have long known: Georgia Southern's large, tender leaves deserve far wider recognition. A genuine Southern workhorse, it rewards both prolific harvests and exceptional flavor, thriving equally well in scorching heat and hard freezes. Its proven track record across nearly 150 years speaks louder than any marketing claim.
Georgia Southern collards are primarily used as a cooked green, simmered slowly with aromatics and broth to create tender, flavorful side dishes central to Southern cuisine. The large leaves also work well in soups, stews, and braises where extended cooking softens their texture and develops their earthy character. Younger leaves can be used raw in salads, though the variety truly shines when given time to cook down.
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Start seeds indoors 4-7 weeks before your last spring frost, sowing at a depth of 1/2 inch in seed-starting mix kept at 65-75°F. Germination typically occurs within 4-7 days. Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors when soil temperatures reach at least 40°F and frost danger has passed. Space plants 8 inches apart. For fall crops, transplant in mid-to-late summer for harvest before first frost.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in spring once soil is workable, or in late summer for fall and winter harvest. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, 8 inches apart. Seeds will sprout in 4-7 days under ideal conditions.
Begin harvesting 75-85 days after planting when leaves reach full size and maintain their tender texture. Pick outer leaves first, working your way inward, which encourages continued production from the growing center. Georgia Southern's compact 4-6 inch mature height means you can harvest leaves from the bottom of the plant while it continues growing upward. The variety's frost hardiness allows harvesting to continue well into winter, with plants actually developing sweeter leaves after a light frost as starches convert to sugars.
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“Georgia Southern emerged as a pre-1880 heirloom, developing its reputation as a staple across Southern agriculture long before seed catalogs standardized varietal descriptions. The variety gained formal recognition in the 1921 J.J. Wilson Seed Company catalog, where the company made an enthusiastic endorsement of its large, tender leaves and productive nature, noting it "should be better known." That endorsement proved prescient; Georgia Southern remains a trusted heirloom in both heritage seed collections and home gardens, preserved through continuous cultivation and seed saving by gardeners who recognized its dual gift of abundance and cold hardiness.”