Hey y’all, it’s me—Keioffa.
If you’ve been following my homestead journey, then you already know… I don’t do gardening the “perfect” way. I do it the real way—simple, practical, and based on what actually works in my yard here in North Florida.
And today, I want to break down exactly how I grow collard greens using mulch, compost, and worms—without overcomplicating the process.
Because honestly?
This is one of the easiest crops you can grow, especially if you build your soil right.
🌱 Why I Love Growing Collard Greens
Let me just say this first—collard greens are THAT plant.
- They’re easy to grow
- They keep producing
- They don’t require a lot of maintenance
- And they taste WAY better fresh
I’ve been growing collards for a few years now, and once you start eating them straight from your yard… it’s hard to go back to store-bought.
I don’t freeze mine.
I don’t can them.
I literally just walk outside and pick what I need.
That’s the lifestyle I’m building.
🌞 Growing Collard Greens in Florida (Zone 8/9 Tips)
Now let’s talk about something important—location matters.
Here in North Florida, we’re dealing with:
- Intense heat ☀️
- Strong sun exposure
- Long growing seasons
And one thing I’ve learned the hard way:
👉 Collard greens do NOT love full sun in the summer.
They’ll grow… but the leaves will get:
- Tough
- Bitter
- Less enjoyable to eat
What works better:
- Partial shade
- Morning sun, afternoon shade
- Or planting near structures (like the side of your house)
In cooler months (fall, winter, early spring), you can let them grow bigger.
But in the summer?
👉 You need to harvest them young and often.
🌿 My Simple “Plant It and Let It Grow” Method
I’m not doing anything fancy over here.
Here’s literally what I do:
- I build up a thick layer of mulch (about 1 foot deep)
- I dig small holes directly into the mulch
- I plant my collard greens right into it
That’s it.
No complicated raised beds.
No perfect soil mix.
Just mulch + organic matter over time.
🌾 Why Mulch is the Real Secret
If you take anything from this post, let it be this:
👉 Your soil matters more than anything else.
The reason my collard greens grow so well is because I’ve spent years building my soil using:
- Wood mulch
- Compost
- Manure
- Kitchen scraps
What mulch does:
- Holds moisture 💧
- Feeds the soil
- Keeps roots cool
- Reduces how often I have to water
And because I use SO much mulch, my plants basically feed themselves.
🪱 Let’s Talk About Worms (This Is Where the Magic Happens)
Now this is my favorite part.
If you’ve got worms in your garden?
👉 You’re doing something right.
I use red wiggler worms in my compost, and they produce what we call:
🪱 Worm Castings (aka Black Gold)
This is literally worm poop… but don’t let that turn you off.
Because it’s one of the best natural fertilizers you can use.
What worm castings do:
- Improve soil structure
- Add nutrients naturally
- Help plants grow stronger
- Increase microbial life
Basically… they take your scraps and turn it into plant food.
🍌 What I Feed My Worms (Super Simple)
I don’t overthink this either.
I feed my compost:
- Banana peels
- Food scraps
- Eggshells
- Chicken manure
- Rabbit manure
Then the worms break everything down for me.
And instead of constantly buying fertilizer…
👉 I just reuse what I already have.
🪴 My “Lazy Compost” Fertilizing System
Now THIS right here is a gem.
Instead of spreading compost everywhere…
I do this:
👉 I fill pots with compost + scraps
👉 Then place them around my garden
Over time, those pots:
- Break down
- Feed nearby plants
- Act like slow-release fertilizer
So instead of working harder…
I let the system work for me.
🌿 How Many Collard Plants Do You Really Need?
Let’s be real.
You don’t need a whole field.
👉 For 1–2 people, 1–2 plants is enough
But me?
I grow a lot because:
- I share with neighbors
- People always ask for them
- And honestly… you can never have too many
Plus, things happen:
- Bugs 🐛
- Weather
- Plant damage
So I always plant extra.
🐛 Dealing With Bugs (Real Talk)
One thing I learned:
👉 Sometimes you have to rotate your planting areas.
I moved my collards this year because bugs were tearing them up in my usual spot.
Instead of fighting it…
I just changed locations and let that area rest.
That’s part of gardening too—learning and adjusting.
🧂 What If Your Collard Greens Turn Yellow?
This doesn’t happen to me often, but if it does:
Here’s what I use:
- Epsom salt
- Banana peels
- Chicken or rabbit manure
That usually brings them right back.
But again…
👉 If your soil is healthy, you won’t need to fix much.
🥬 Why Fresh Collard Greens Taste Better
Let me just say this…
Once you grow your own, you’ll notice the difference immediately.
Fresh collards are:
- More tender
- More flavorful
- Less bitter
And because I pick mine fresh…
I don’t deal with:
- Mushy texture
- Frozen taste
- Over-processed greens
🍲 How I Cook My Collard Greens
Now listen… I’m Southern 😂
So yes…
👉 I cook mine with smoked meat.
Usually:
- Smoked neck bones
- Or something similar
Because collard greens need time to cook, and that flavor hits different.
I’ve tried cooking them other ways…
But for me?
👉 Smoked meat is the way.
🌿 Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple
If you’re new to gardening, don’t overthink this.
You don’t need:
- Expensive setups
- Perfect soil
- Fancy systems
What you DO need:
- Consistency
- Patience
- A willingness to learn
And honestly?
👉 Start with collard greens.
They’ll teach you everything you need to know about:
- Soil
- Sun
- Harvesting
- Food systems
💬 Let’s Talk
Do you grow collard greens?
- How do you fertilize yours?
- Do you use worms or compost?
- And how do YOU cook your greens?
Drop it in the comments—I’m always learning too.