Cool-Season Vegetable

When to Plant Kale

The toughest green in the garden. Kale laughs at frost and actually tastes sweeter after a cold snap.

Sun

Full to partial sun (4-6 hours)

Water

1-1.5 inches per week

Days to Harvest

50-65

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

18"

Frost Tolerance

very high

The Short Answer

Kale are cold-tolerant and actually prefer cooler growing conditions. You can direct sow seeds 4 weeks before your last frost date — one of the earliest crops you can plant. Or start seeds indoors 4 weeks before your last frost for an even earlier harvest. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Kale

Kale is the cockroach of the vegetable garden — in the most complimentary way possible. It survives heat, cold, neglect, and poor soil that would kill more delicate crops. Frost-kissed kale is sweeter than summer kale because the plant converts starches to sugars as a natural antifreeze. Harvest outer leaves and let the center continue growing for months of production from a single planting. Lacinato (Dinosaur) kale has the best flavor; Russian types are the most cold-hardy; curly kale is the most productive.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Begin kale seeds indoors 4 weeks before your average last frost date. Seeds need soil temperatures of at least 40°F to germinate, which typically takes 5-8 days. Provide 12 hours of light per day using a south-facing window or grow lights.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 3 weeks before your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 40°F. Harden off seedlings for 5 days before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.

Direct Sowing

Kale can be direct sown 4 weeks before your last frost date. Plant seeds 0.5" deep, spaced 18" apart.

Fall Planting

Kale are planted in fall, 8 weeks before your average first frost date. Plant 0.5" deep, 18" apart.

Growing Tips

Harvest outer leaves first, leaving the center to keep growing. Can survive temperatures down to 10°F with mulch protection.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Beets Celery Herbs Onions

Keep away from:

Strawberries Tomatoes

Kale Planting Dates by State

Click your state for kale planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026