Steve Robertson, 82, of Ward, says he always knows he’ll have plenty of collard greens for the traditional New Year’s dinner. He is known for raising some of the biggest collards around.

He says he doesn’t do anything special to make them grow so big.

“I guess the Good Lord just blesses me to grow them so well,” he says. “I’ve been gardening since I was a little boy. That was one of my jobs growing up, to help my mother with the garden. I still plant a big garden every year.”

Coming from a family of five children, Robertson says he learned early that if you wanted to have plenty to eat, you had to plant a garden.

“We had to depend on it to survive,” he says. “My wife and I raised our four children the same way. We always had plenty of vegetables.”

The retired maintenance supervisor with the Saluda County School District has about a half acre garden now, about an acre counting the corn.

“My wife tells me I plant too much,” he says. “I can some and freeze some. Whatever I have left over, I share with my neighbors and friends.”

In addition to corn and collards, he plants sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, beans, squash and tomatoes.

Although he doesn’t like to claim credit for his growing success, he does follow a few simple rules in his garden.

“I don’t use much insecticide on my vegetables. I put black pepper instead. I tell people I plant enough for me and the insects both,” he says with a laugh.

He also makes sure he buys his supplies from a reliable source.

“I get all my plants from Rock Ridge Nursery,” he says. “One of the main things is to have good plants and good seed.”

When he isn’t gardening, Robertson enjoys making music (he plays lead guitar in bands, something else he has done since he was very young); rabbit hunting; and carpentry.

“I like to have lots of activities,” he says. “It keeps me feeling young.”