Champion Collards stands as an impressive improvement over the prolific Vates variety, developed at Virginia Tech's Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station to deliver huge, slightly crumpled leaves with exceptional staying power. These dark blue-green collards reach 30 inches tall in zones 8-10, taking about 75 days to mature with leaves that keep their eating quality two weeks longer than other varieties. The mild, cabbage-like flavor actually improves with frost, making this a standout choice for extended harvests well into winter.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
8-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
30 in
Height
30 in
Width
18 in
Spacing
75–75
Days to Harvest
PeriodPerennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
8-10
Size
30in H x 30in W
Growth
Perennial
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
This Virginia Tech-developed variety solves the common problem of collards turning bitter and bolting in heat through careful breeding for temperature tolerance. The massive, juicy leaves maintain their tender texture and mild flavor longer than any other collard variety, with some growers reporting harvests continuing unprotected beyond December. Champion's compact yet upright growth habit packs maximum nutrition into a manageable 24-30 inch spread, while the wavy, slightly crumpled leaves provide both visual appeal and superior cooking qualities.
Common Uses
Champion Collards excel in slow-braised preparations where their substantial leaves hold up beautifully to long cooking times while developing rich, complex flavors. The tender leaves can be sliced thin across the stem and cooked quickly for lighter dishes, or left whole for traditional Southern-style preparations. Their mild, cabbage-like flavor makes them versatile enough to complement nearly any meal, and the cooked greens can be twirled around a fork like noodles or easily picked up with chopsticks from a steaming bowl.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Does Not Bloom Under Typical Cultivation
First Harvest
6-8 Weeks After Planting
Last Harvest
Late Fall Or Early Winter
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the final frost date, sowing 2-3 seeds 1/4 inch deep per cell. Seeds germinate in 5-12 days. For fall harvests, begin indoor sowings in early July.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings when they reach 4 inches high, spacing them 18 inches apart. Transplant spring starts after the danger of hard frost has passed, or transplant fall crops in August for winter harvest.
Direct Sow
Direct sow in early spring or late summer, planting seeds 1/4 inch deep and 4 inches apart in the garden. For fall harvests, sow 3-4 weeks before the first expected frost.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting about 8-10 weeks after transplanting when leaves reach your preferred size, though larger leaves may become more coarse and bitter. Practice cut-and-come-again harvesting by picking the larger outer leaves from the bottom while leaving smaller inner leaves to continue growing. You can harvest the entire plant at once or continuously harvest individual leaves to extend production. For the best flavor, wait until after the plants have experienced one or two frosts, which dramatically improves their sweetness.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica oleracea L.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Duration
Perennial
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Champion Collards emerged from the respected Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station at Virginia Tech as a deliberate improvement over the already successful Vates collard variety. Plant breeders crossed Champion specifically to delay bolting from heat stress, addressing one of the biggest challenges collard growers face when trying to extend their harvest season. This careful breeding work created a variety with higher tolerance to disease and temperature extremes than any other member of the cabbage family, representing a significant advancement in collard cultivation for both home gardeners and market growers.”