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- Start indoors
- Sow outdoors
- Plant out
- Plant
- Fall crop
- Today
Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Plant kale outdoors 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost, either as seed or as transplants started indoors 6–8 weeks before that date. For fall, sow or plant out 11–14 weeks before your first fall frost. Kale handles frost well, and a few cold nights make the leaves sweeter.
- Frost tolerance
- Hardy: tolerates frost
- Soil temperature
- Sow at 45–85°F; cool soil is fine
- Days to harvest
- 40–60 days from seed
The rule we use
- Start seeds indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last spring frost
- Plant out: 2–4 weeks before the last spring frost
- Sow outdoors: 2–4 weeks before the last spring frost
- Sow or plant for fall: 11–14 weeks before the first fall frost
Spring kale
Kale is a cool-season crop that grows well in spring sun and cool nights. Sow seed ½ inch deep outside a few weeks before the last frost, or start plants indoors so they're ready to set out then. Harden off indoor seedlings for about a week before planting. Space plants 12–18 inches apart.
Spring kale often slows down in midsummer heat, and cabbage worms can be a problem. Covering plants with a light row cover keeps the moths off.
Fall kale is the best kale
Fall is when kale shines. Plants set out in mid to late summer grow through the cooling weeks of fall, and frost turns some of the starch in the leaves to sugar, which is why kale tastes sweeter after a freeze. Most varieties shrug off temperatures in the 20s°F.
For fall, count back 11–14 weeks from your first fall frost. Summer soil can be hot and dry, so keep seedbeds moist, or start transplants in a shaded spot and plant them out in the evening.
Harvesting
Pick the lower, outer leaves when they're about the size of your hand, and leave the center to keep growing. One planting can last for months. In mild-winter areas, kale often keeps producing through winter and flowers in spring.
Seeds and supplies for kale
- Kale seeds at True Leaf Market
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- LED grow lights stop seedlings stretching toward a window.
- Insect netting to keep cabbage worms off young plants.
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Questions about planting kale
Can kale survive frost?
Yes. Kale is one of the hardiest garden crops and is often sweeter after frost. Most varieties survive the low 20s°F, and some survive colder with a cover.
When should I plant kale for fall?
Sow or plant out 11–14 weeks before your first fall frost. Enter your ZIP above for the exact dates.
Should I start kale indoors?
It's optional. Starting indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost gives you a head start in spring. For fall, direct sowing works well.
Why is my kale bitter?
Heat and drought make kale stronger tasting. Spring kale picked in summer can be bitter; fall kale picked after a frost is usually the sweetest.
Sources
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland (2026), University of Maryland Extension
- Vegetables for Spring and Fall Planting; Vegetables for Summer Planting, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners
- Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs, NC State Extension
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 16: Vegetable Gardening, NC State Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)