When to plant Kale
An exceptionally hardy leafy brassica that improves with cold — frost converts starches to sugars, sweetening the leaves. Picked leaf by leaf, one planting feeds you for months, often straight through winter in milder zones.
Companions: Beets, onions, herbs — keep apart from other brassicas to spread pest risk
How to grow Kale
Kale is usually started indoors and transplanted out, giving this hardy crop the head start it needs. Give it full sun to part shade and space plants about 16 inches apart. It takes roughly 60 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. It also supports a fall sowing for a second harvest. Classic companions include beets, onions, herbs — keep apart from other brassicas to spread pest risk.
Grower's tip: Frost actually sweetens the leaves. Excellent for fall and overwintering in mild zones.
When to plant Kale by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same kale goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors May 4–May 18 Transplant outdoors Jun 1–Jun 15 Direct sow outdoors Jun 1–Jun 29 Direct sow outdoors May 23–Jun 20 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors Apr 29–May 13 Transplant outdoors May 27–Jun 10 Direct sow outdoors May 27–Jun 24 Direct sow outdoors May 28–Jun 25 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors Apr 24–May 8 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 2–Jun 30 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors Apr 18–May 2 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jun 9–Jul 7 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Apr 13–Apr 27 Transplant outdoors May 11–May 25 Direct sow outdoors May 11–Jun 8 Direct sow outdoors Jun 16–Jul 14 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Apr 8–Apr 22 Transplant outdoors May 6–May 20 Direct sow outdoors May 6–Jun 3 Direct sow outdoors Jun 20–Jul 18 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Apr 3–Apr 17 Transplant outdoors May 1–May 15 Direct sow outdoors May 1–May 29 Direct sow outdoors Jun 26–Jul 24 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Mar 29–Apr 12 Transplant outdoors Apr 26–May 10 Direct sow outdoors Apr 26–May 24 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 28 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 Direct sow outdoors Jul 9–Aug 6 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Mar 19–Apr 2 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Jul 13–Aug 10 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Jul 25–Aug 22 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Aug 2–Aug 30 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Sep 7 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 18–Sep 15 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Feb 8–Feb 22 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 26–Sep 23 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 2–Sep 30 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Sep 12–Oct 10 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 22–Oct 20 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 5–Nov 2 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 29 Direct sow outdoors Oct 8–Nov 5 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 8–Nov 5 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 8–Nov 5 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 8–Nov 5 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 8–Nov 5 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 8–Nov 5 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 8–Nov 5 |