These leafy, non-heading cabbages, originated in the eastern Mediterranean or Asia Minor and are the wild forms of cabbage first used in prehistoric times. Home gardeners often plant transplants for collards versus seeds. When planting from seed there is a 60 days minimum before harvesting. If you plant transplants, you can begin harvesting in 30 days. The average home gardener picks individual leaves and can harvest from one individual plant many times.
Commercial growers mow the whole plant at once.
Harvest season for collards can be all winter long. They will tolerate more cold weather than almost any other vegetable we grow. If you can find transplants, you can still plant them statewide, even seeds can be planted in mid to southern Arkansas for all winter harvest. Collards are slower growing than other greens, but they will tolerate a wider range of soils. You need to avoid soils that hold water in the winter, or your plants will rot.