Champion Collards
Brassica oleracea viridis
Approximately 70 seeds per pack.
Germination ~ 90% Packed for 2025
Origins and History
Champion Collard is an heirloom collard green introduced in the mid-20th century, gaining popularity among Southern gardeners for its resilience and dependable yields. Like most collards, its ancestry traces back to ancient Mediterranean Brassica crops that were later carried to West Africa and eventually the American South, where collards became a staple of African American foodways. Champion was bred as a hardy, uniform variety capable of withstanding cooler conditions and providing an extended harvest, making it a favorite for home gardens and seed savers.
Appearance and Characteristics
Champion Collard forms a compact, upright rosette of broad, blue-green leaves with a slightly crinkled surface. The leaves are thick, tender, and rich in flavor, standing up well to cooking while retaining a subtle sweetness, especially after frost. The plant reaches 18–24 inches tall, with leaves that can span 10–12 inches wide, providing abundant harvests from a single plant. Its cold-hardiness and slow bolting make it one of the most reliable collard varieties.
Culinary Uses
Champion Collard is a cornerstone of Southern cuisine. Traditionally simmered low and slow with smoked meats or vegetable stock, its leaves develop a savory depth and earthy richness. Young leaves can also be harvested for tender salad greens or used as wraps in place of tortillas. Their sturdiness makes them excellent for braising, steaming, or stir-frying. Nutritionally, collards are high in vitamins A, C, and K, along with calcium and fiber.
Growing Tips
This heirloom thrives in USDA Zones 6–10, but with frost protection it can also be grown in cooler zones. Collards prefer well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost and a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Sow seeds directly in the garden at a depth of ¼ to ½ inch, or start indoors 6–8 weeks before transplanting. Thin or transplant seedlings to 12–18 inches apart in rows spaced 24–36 inches. Collards tolerate heat but excel in cool weather, with frost actually improving leaf flavor. Succession planting can ensure harvests nearly year-round in mild climates.
Harvesting Guidance
Begin harvesting outer leaves when they reach 6–8 inches long, cutting them cleanly at the base while leaving the inner leaves to continue growing. Champion Collard’s cut-and-come-again habit allows multiple pickings over several months. For sweeter flavor, harvest after light frosts in autumn and early winter. Plants can be overwintered in many regions, withstanding temperatures down to the low 20s°F. If left to flower, Champion Collards will produce seed in their second year, allowing gardeners to save seed and maintain this heirloom for future seasons.
