Kale goes out about four weeks before your last spring frost and is sown again in summer for fall, when frost sweetens its flavor. Find your zone below, or enter your ZIP code for dates based on the weather station closest to you.
Kale dates for your ZIP code
Planting times based on university extension guidance (UNH, Cornell, Purdue, Minnesota, Nebraska and UMass Extension). Frost dates from NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest weather station. Zones derived from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map data (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). This is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Kale planting dates by zone
| USDA zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April 25 |
| Zone 4 | April 18 |
| Zone 5 | April 10 |
| Zone 6 | April 3 |
| Zone 7 | March 20 |
| Zone 8 | March 3 |
| Zone 9 | February 3 |
Not sure of your zone? Look it up by ZIP code.
Why kale is planted early and late
Kale is one of the most cold-tolerant vegetables. It handles frost, keeps producing well past the first fall frosts, and the cooler the weather, the better it tastes. That is why it goes out about four weeks before the last spring frost and is sown again in summer for fall.
How to plant kale
- Sow seeds directly ¼–½ inch deep, or start transplants indoors about four weeks before planting out.
- Space rows 18–30 inches apart.
- Thin seedlings to 8–12 inches apart, or 4 inches for baby greens.
- Set transplants about 8 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart.
- Keep the soil evenly moist for tender leaves.
Harvesting kale
Pick leaves as soon as they reach a usable size, taking the larger ones and leaving the small ones to grow. You’ll get many harvests from the same plants. You can also cut the whole plant just above the soil. Leaves can be harvested even after they freeze.
Frequently asked questions
Can kale handle frost?
Yes. Kale is very cold tolerant, and frost actually improves its flavor.
How do I harvest kale so it keeps growing?
Pick the larger leaves and leave the small ones in the center. The plant keeps producing new leaves.
Can I eat ornamental kale?
Grow eating varieties instead. Ornamental kale is bred for color and used mainly as a garnish.
Sources. Planting dates use the median frost dates of each USDA zone, calculated from NOAA climate data for every ZIP code in the zone.