When to plant Kale in Zone 5a
In Zone 5a, Kale: start seeds indoors around Mar 24–Apr 7; transplant outdoors around Apr 21–May 5; direct sow outdoors around Apr 21–May 19; direct sow outdoors around Jul 9–Aug 6. Expect to harvest around Jun 20–Jul 4.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Harvest | Jun 20 – Jul 4 |
| Harvest | Jun 20 – Jul 18 |
| Harvest | Sep 7 – Oct 5 |
Tip: Frost actually sweetens the leaves. Excellent for fall and overwintering in mild zones.
Zone 5a averages a last spring frost around May 5 and a first fall frost around Oct 1. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 5a calendar in the tool →