When to plant collards in USDA Zone 4a

Plan your collards planting around local frost risk and soil temperature, then work backward from the harvest week your buyers need. The calendar below is a starting point, not a field-level weather forecast.

Fargo ND, northern MN, northern WI, northern ME. Average last spring frost May 22, first fall frost September 15 — a 116-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent
Collards is well suited to Zone 4a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors
April 10 – April 24
Direct-seed or transplant outdoors
April 17 – May 8
Expected first harvest
June 23 – July 21
Fall planting window
June 16 – July 7
Fall harvest window
August 22 – September 19

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing
18″
Row spacing
24″
Seed depth
0.5″
Soil temperature
55–75°F
Frost tolerance
hardy
Days to harvest
60 days

Grower notes for Zone 4a

Southern staple. Flavor sweetens after two hard frosts — fall crop always beats spring for quality.

Plant near: onions, beets, carrots

Keep away from: tomatoes

Other brassicas for Zone 4a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.