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When to plant collard greens

Start collard greens seeds indoors 6 to 12 weeks before the last frost, plant them out 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost, sow seed outdoors 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost and plant again for fall 10 to 13 weeks before the first fall frost.

Your dates for collard greens

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant collard greens where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

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Collard Greens planting dates by zone

JFMAMJJASOND Zone 4b Zone 5b Zone 6b Zone 7b Zone 8b Zone 9a
Start indoorsPlant out or sowFirst harvestFall plantingDates use each zone's typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code for your own.
Dates from each zone's typical (median) frost dates.
ZoneStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall planting
Zone 2aFeb 24 to Apr 7Apr 21 to 28Apr 21 to 28Jun 6 to 27
Zone 3aMar 3 to Apr 14Apr 28 to May 5Apr 28 to May 5Jun 15 to Jul 6
Zone 3bFeb 22 to Apr 5Apr 19 to 26Apr 19 to 26Jun 25 to Jul 16
Zone 4aFeb 18 to Apr 1Apr 15 to 22Apr 15 to 22Jun 29 to Jul 20
Zone 4bFeb 13 to Mar 27Apr 10 to 17Apr 10 to 17Jul 2 to 23
Zone 5aFeb 8 to Mar 22Apr 5 to 12Apr 5 to 12Jul 5 to 26
Zone 5bFeb 6 to Mar 20Apr 3 to 10Apr 3 to 10Jul 11 to Aug 1
Zone 6aFeb 4 to Mar 18Apr 1 to 8Apr 1 to 8Jul 18 to Aug 8
Zone 6bJan 29 to Mar 12Mar 26 to Apr 2Mar 26 to Apr 2Jul 23 to Aug 13
Zone 7aJan 22 to Mar 5Mar 19 to 26Mar 19 to 26Jul 26 to Aug 16
Zone 7bJan 11 to Feb 22Mar 8 to 15Mar 8 to 15Aug 2 to 23
Zone 8aJan 4 to Feb 15Mar 1 to 8Mar 1 to 8Aug 8 to 29
Zone 8bDec 23 to Feb 3Feb 17 to 24Feb 17 to 24Aug 14 to Sep 4
Zone 9aDec 8 to Jan 19Feb 2 to 9Feb 2 to 9Aug 27 to Sep 17
Zone 9bNov 8 to Dec 20Jan 3 to 10Jan 3 to 10Sep 9 to 30

Spring dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.

Where frost is rare

Collards tolerate both cold and heat, so frost-rare areas can plant from late summer through winter and, in North Florida, again in late winter-spring.

ZonePlanting months in Extension guides
Zone 9Feb-Apr, Sep-Nov (North Florida); Jan-Feb, mid-Aug to Dec from seed (Phoenix area)
Zone 10Sep-Feb (Central Florida)
Zone 11Sep-Jan (South Florida)

Based on UF/IFAS VH021 Table 1 planting dates (North FL ~ zone 8b-9a used for zone_9, Central FL ~ 9b-10a used for zone_10, South FL ~ 10b-11 used for zone_11); University of Arizona AZ1005 Maricopa County (Phoenix low desert, ~zone 9b-10a) added to zone_9; Texas A&M AgriLife RGV Homeowner Vegetable Guide (Lower Rio Grande Valley, ~zone 9b-10a) cited in summary. RGV: same timing as broccoli (sow early Sep to early Dec). Warm-winter areas are matched to zones approximately, so use the months for your region.

How to grow collard greensYour full planting calendar

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