Louisiana Sweet

In 1930, Dr. Julian C. Miller saw a need within the Louisiana truck crops industry for an improved shipping variety of collards. Varieties at the time lacked uniformity, a characteristic needed for attractive packaging of bunched vegetables. Miller ‘set out to correct this evil’ as stated in his 1934 publication, Collards: A Truck Crop for Louisiana, and developed an improved strain through inbreeding and selection of common types. This new strain had a deep compact rosette center, short petioles, and uniformly green, free of red or purple color. Seed increase work began in 1934 and continued through 1949.Louisiana Sweet seed first appeared for sale in the Fall 1936 issue of Reuter’s Seed Catalog and was continuously sold through 1955.This variety was acquired from GRIN (PI 687114) and grown out in the 2022 and 2024 Preservation Garden for evaluation and seed increase. Transplants were planted in both fall and spring, and in both instances, the spring crop performed much better. The 2024 spring crop lived on into the summer and fall, producing leaves and never bolting. It tends not to bolt until 5-6 months after planting. It did not maintain its compact rosette form in the warmer months as it did in the cooler months, but for home gardeners, the heat tolerance will likely be a welcomed characteristic over the compactness. It maintained the deep rosette form during the cool season, with no red or purple color as it was bred to be. The short petioles were also present during all growing seasons. Louisiana Sweet was served for taste testing at the 2024 Preservation Garden Field Day and was rated an average 4/5 on taste (Very Good). Overall, based on modern observations, this variety was very well developed by Miller and his team and remains an excellent variety for both home and commercial use.77 days to harvest.