When to plant Kale in Zone 5b
In Zone 5b, Kale: start seeds indoors around Mar 19–Apr 2; transplant outdoors around Apr 16–Apr 30; direct sow outdoors around Apr 16–May 14; direct sow outdoors around Jul 13–Aug 10. Expect to harvest around Jun 15–Jun 29.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Harvest | Jun 15 – Jun 29 |
| Harvest | Jun 15 – Jul 13 |
| Harvest | Sep 11 – Oct 9 |
Tip: Frost actually sweetens the leaves. Excellent for fall and overwintering in mild zones.
Zone 5b averages a last spring frost around Apr 30 and a first fall frost around Oct 5. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 5b calendar in the tool →