When to plant Kale
Frost actually sweetens the leaves. Excellent for fall and overwintering in mild zones.
TypeVegetables
Frost toleranceHardy (hard frost)
Days to maturity~60
When to plant Kale by USDA zone
| 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 |