Collard Greens in Zone 11a & 11b

Brassica oleracea (Acephala group)

When to plant collard greens in zone 11b

Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Collard Greens tolerates either.

Start indoors	Nov 13–Nov 20
Direct sow / transplant outside	Dec 11–Dec 18
Estimated harvest	Feb 19 '27–Feb 26 '27 (~70 days after planting)

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.

Collard greens are a Southern staple for a reason: they're tough, cold-hardy, and keep producing edible leaves through conditions that would end most other greens for the season. The tradeoff is that they take space and time. This isn't a quick, tuck-it-anywhere crop.

How collard greens fits zone 11's season

Zone 11b is frost-free in this dataset, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.

Good companions

Onion: Onion scent may help deter common collard pests. (usually zones 3-10, so not a pairing for zone 11b)
Dill: Attracts beneficial predatory wasps that help protect brassicas. (usually zones 2-10, so not a pairing for zone 11b)

Where to buy collard greens seeds

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