When to Plant Kale
Sow kale outside 2 to 6 weeks before your last frost, and again 8 to 12 weeks before your first fall frost for a fall crop.
Kale at a glance
- Sow outside
- 2 to 6 weeks before your last frost
- Fall sowing
- 8 to 12 weeks before your first fall frost
- Time to harvest
- 55 to 75 days from sowing
- Harvest lasts
- about 22 weeks
- Spacing
- 1 plant per square foot
- Frost
- Takes hard frosts
Growing kale
Kale is among the easiest and toughest greens. Sow it in spring for summer leaves and again in midsummer for fall and winter. Give it rich soil and steady water; a light row cover keeps cabbage worms off the young plants.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Sow | Sow for fall | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 16 – May 14 | Jun 22 – Jul 20 | Jun 10 – Oct 26 |
| Zone 3b | Apr 5 – May 3 | Jul 3–31 | May 30 – Nov 6 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 31 – Apr 28 | Jul 6 – Aug 3 | May 25 – Nov 9 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 27 – Apr 24 | Jul 9 – Aug 6 | May 21 – Nov 12 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 22 – Apr 19 | Jul 13 – Aug 10 | May 16 – Nov 16 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 20 – Apr 17 | Jul 18 – Aug 15 | May 14 – Nov 21 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 18 – Apr 15 | Jul 24 – Aug 21 | May 12 – Nov 27 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 12 – Apr 9 | Jul 30 – Aug 27 | May 6 – Dec 3 |
| Zone 7a | Mar 5 – Apr 2 | Aug 2–30 | Apr 29 – Dec 6 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 22 – Mar 22 | Aug 9 – Sep 6 | Apr 18 – Sep 19 · Oct 3 – Dec 13 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Aug 15 – Sep 12 | Apr 11 – Sep 12 · Oct 9 – Dec 19 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 3 – Mar 3 | Aug 21 – Sep 18 | Mar 30 – Aug 31 · Oct 15 – Dec 25 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 19 – Feb 16 | Sep 3 – Oct 1 | Mar 15 – Aug 16 · Oct 28 – Jan 7 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 21 – Jan 18 | Sep 22 – Oct 20 | Feb 14 – Jul 18 · Nov 16 – Jan 26 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 13 – Jan 10 | Oct 4 – Nov 1 | Feb 6 – Jul 10 · Nov 28 – Feb 7 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so grow kale in the cooler months, from fall to early spring. | ||
Questions about kale
Which kale should I grow?
Curly kale is hardy and productive, flat-leaved Lacinato kale is tender and easy to cook, and Red Russian is mild and quick. They all grow the same way.
Can I eat kale flowers?
Yes. In spring, kale that came through winter sends up flower shoots that taste like tender broccoli; pick them before the yellow flowers open.
