When to plant Kale in Zone 8a
In Zone 8a, Kale: start seeds indoors around Feb 8–Feb 22; transplant outdoors around Mar 8–Mar 22; direct sow outdoors around Mar 8–Apr 5; direct sow outdoors around Aug 26–Sep 23. Expect to harvest around May 7–May 21.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Harvest | May 7 – May 21 |
| Harvest | May 7 – Jun 4 |
| Harvest | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
Tip: Frost actually sweetens the leaves. Excellent for fall and overwintering in mild zones.
Zone 8a averages a last spring frost around Mar 22 and a first fall frost around Nov 18. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 8a calendar in the tool →