When to plant Kale in Zone 9a
In Zone 9a, Kale: start seeds indoors around Jan 17–Jan 31; transplant outdoors around Feb 14–Feb 28; direct sow outdoors around Feb 14–Mar 14; direct sow outdoors around Sep 12–Oct 10. Expect to harvest around Apr 15–Apr 29.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Harvest | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Harvest | Apr 15 – May 13 |
| Harvest | Nov 11 – Dec 9 |
Tip: Frost actually sweetens the leaves. Excellent for fall and overwintering in mild zones.
Zone 9a averages a last spring frost around Feb 28 and a first fall frost around Dec 5. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 9a calendar in the tool →