WhenToPlantGuide

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When to plant kale

Plant kale 2–5 weeks before the last spring frost in spring, or 9–12 weeks before the first fall frost for a fall crop. Wait until the soil is at least 45°F. That works out to zone 5b (late March to late April), zone 7a (mid March to early April) and zone 9a (late January to mid February).

Kale planting dates by zone

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 2a Start indoors Mar 25 – Apr 8 Plant Apr 15 – May 6 Fall planting Jun 17 – Jul 8 3b Start indoors Mar 22 – Apr 5 Plant Apr 12 – May 3 Fall planting Jul 1 – Jul 22 4a Start indoors Mar 20 – Apr 3 Plant Apr 10 – May 1 Fall planting Jul 4 – Jul 25 4b Start indoors Mar 18 – Apr 1 Plant Apr 8 – Apr 29 Fall planting Jul 7 – Jul 28 5a Start indoors Mar 16 – Mar 30 Plant Apr 6 – Apr 27 Fall planting Jul 9 – Jul 30 5b Start indoors Mar 10 – Mar 24 Plant Mar 31 – Apr 21 Fall planting Jul 16 – Aug 6 6a Start indoors Mar 5 – Mar 19 Plant Mar 26 – Apr 16 Fall planting Jul 23 – Aug 13 6b Start indoors Feb 27 – Mar 13 Plant Mar 20 – Apr 10 Fall planting Jul 27 – Aug 17 7a Start indoors Feb 18 – Mar 4 Plant Mar 11 – Apr 1 Fall planting Aug 2 – Aug 23 7b Start indoors Feb 9 – Feb 23 Plant Mar 2 – Mar 23 Fall planting Aug 9 – Aug 30 8a Start indoors Jan 30 – Feb 13 Plant Feb 20 – Mar 13 Fall planting Aug 15 – Sep 5 8b Start indoors Jan 19 – Feb 2 Plant Feb 9 – Mar 2 Fall planting Aug 23 – Sep 13 9a Start indoors Jan 5 – Jan 19 Plant Jan 26 – Feb 16 Fall planting Sep 3 – Sep 24 9b Start indoors Dec 10 – Dec 24 Plant Dec 31 – Jan 21 Fall planting Sep 17 – Oct 8 10a Start indoors Nov 13 – Nov 27 Plant Dec 4 – Dec 25 Fall planting Oct 1 – Oct 22
■ spring planting · ■ fall planting · ■ start seeds indoors. Zones from the USDA 2023 map; dates from NOAA frost normals for the weather stations in each zone.
ZoneSpringFallkale ready from
4a Apr 10 – May 1Jul 4 – Jul 25 Jun 9
4b Apr 8 – Apr 29Jul 7 – Jul 28 Jun 7
5a Apr 6 – Apr 27Jul 9 – Jul 30 Jun 5
5b Mar 31 – Apr 21Jul 16 – Aug 6 May 30
6a Mar 26 – Apr 16Jul 23 – Aug 13 May 26
6b Mar 20 – Apr 10Jul 27 – Aug 17 May 20
7a Mar 11 – Apr 1Aug 2 – Aug 23 May 10
7b Mar 2 – Mar 23Aug 9 – Aug 30 May 2
8a Feb 20 – Mar 13Aug 15 – Sep 5 Apr 22
8b Feb 9 – Mar 2Aug 23 – Sep 13 Apr 10
9a Jan 26 – Feb 16Sep 3 – Sep 24 Mar 27
9b Dec 31 – Jan 21Sep 17 – Oct 8 Mar 1

How to plant kale

Plant asseeds outdoors or transplants
Soil temperature45°F or warmer
Depth1/2 in
Spacing12–18 in
LightFull sun
Time to harvest50–65 days
Start indoors6–8 weeks before the last frost (zone 6a: Mar 5 – Mar 19; zone 8a: Jan 30 – Feb 13)

Kale handles frost well and is one of the best fall crops.

Cover young plants to keep cabbage worms off.

In mild climates a fall planting produces all winter.

When to harvest kale

Pick lower leaves when they are hand-sized; frost makes kale sweeter, and it keeps producing into winter.

Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.

More vegetables to plant

Tomatoes · Bell peppers · Potatoes · Pumpkins · Cucumbers · Okra · Zucchini · Watermelon