Collard | Vates

Grow thick, broad, and extraordinarily flavorful leaves of Vates collard greens right in your home garden. Also known as Vates Non-Heading, this celebrated open-pollinated heirloom variety is a cherished garden favorite, renowned for its spreading habit, smooth dark blue-green leaves, and sweet, mild flavor that only improves after a crisp autumn frost.

Extremely resistant to frost, cold, and bolt-triggering temperature spikes, Vates collards produce heavy yields of tender, nutritious greens straight through heat waves and freezing cold spells. Their robust habit makes them an exceptionally productive crop for garden beds, raised boxes, and allotment plots across Canada.

Why Grow Vates Collard Greens?

• Classic heirloom producing broad, smooth, dark blue-green leaves with thick white stems
• Delicious mild, sweet flavor with no harsh bitterness—sweetens further after frost
• Exceptional cold, frost, and bolt resistance for non-stop harvests
• High-yielding cut-and-come-again habit allows continuous leaf harvesting all season long
• Rich source of vitamins A, C, K, calcium, and dietary fiber
• Approximately 70–85 days to maturity
• Grows best in full sun to partial shade
• Open-pollinated heirloom variety
• Approximately 90-100 seeds per packet

How to Grow Vates Collards from Seed

Direct sow collard seeds outdoors in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before your last spring frost date. For an extended fall and early winter harvest, sow again in mid-to-late summer.

Sow seeds approximately 6–13 mm (1/4 to 1/2 inch) deep and 2.5 cm (1 inch) apart in rows spaced 45–60 cm (18–24 inches) apart. When seedlings reach 7–10 cm (3–4 inches) tall, thin them to a final spacing of 30–45 cm (12–18 inches) apart to allow broad leaves to develop fully.

Select a location in full sun to partial shade with rich, moist, and well-draining soil enriched with compost. Water consistently to maintain steady growth and keep leaves tender.

Harvest individual outer leaves continuously when they reach 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) long, leaving the central crown to produce fresh foliage straight into early winter.

Growing Collards in Canada

Vates collard greens are uniquely suited to Canadian growing conditions thanks to their legendary cold hardiness. They stand up against heavy frost, low light levels, and chilly nights far better than most other garden greens.

In northern and regional Canadian growing zones, light autumn frosts trigger plants to convert starches into natural sugars, producing the sweetest, most tender greens of the entire season.

For detailed instructions covering seed starting, spacing, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, and pest management, read our How To Grow Collards in Canada | Complete Guide.

Vates Collard Greens Growing Information

Feature	Detail
Botanical Name	Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Common Name	Collard Greens / Collards (Vates)
Plant Type	Biennial grown as an annual leaf crop
Sun Requirements	Full sun to partial shade
Days to Maturity	Approximately 70–85 days
Seed Count	Approximately 90-100 seeds
Pollination Type	Open-pollinated heirloom variety
Best Uses	Sautéing, braising, Southern-style greens, soups, stews, and healthy wraps

Grow Your Own Vates Collard Greens

There is nothing quite like harvesting tender, frost-kissed collard greens fresh from your garden plot. With their incredible cold hardiness, continuous harvests, and rich sweet flavor, Vates collard greens are a deeply satisfying and essential addition to your Canadian vegetable garden.

Sow your seeds this season and enjoy a bountiful harvest of fresh nutritious greens!