Kale Planting Guide

April

April kale essentials

This page is about kale in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 50–70

Plant depth 1″

Spacing 15″

How to water kale
About an inch of water a week keeps kale happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put kale
kale wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant kale. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

See when to plant kale where you live →

Kale is an exceptionally hardy, nutrient-dense green available in curly, lacinato, and Russian varieties. It tolerates heavy frost and often tastes sweeter after cold exposure.

Brassica oleracea var. sabellica · Vegetable · Brassicaceae family · 50–70 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Kale Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Kale?

Zone Compatibility for Kale Zones 2a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 2a	Apr 18	May 23	May 30	Jul 25 – Sep 19
Zone 2b	Apr 10	May 15	May 22	Jul 17 – Sep 11
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 15	Jul 10 – Sep 4
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 10	Jul 5 – Aug 30
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	May 6	Jul 1 – Aug 26
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	May 1	Jun 26 – Aug 21
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 25	Jun 20 – Aug 15
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 18	Jun 13 – Aug 8
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 10	Jun 5 – Jul 31
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Apr 3	May 29 – Jul 24
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 25	May 20 – Jul 15
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 18	May 13 – Jul 8
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 8	May 3 – Jun 28
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 25	Apr 22 – Jun 17
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 10	Apr 7 – Jun 2
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 25	Mar 22 – May 17
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Feb 26 – Apr 23
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Feb 26 – Apr 23
Zone 11a	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Feb 26 – Apr 23
Zone 11b	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Feb 26 – Apr 23

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Transplant shows "—" because Kale is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Kale

Planting Depth

15"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.8"/week

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 2a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Brassicaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Brassicaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Kale

Kale matures in just 50–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 4 successive plantings by sowing every 5.7 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Kale

✅ Good Companions

Beets Celery Lettuce Onion

❌ Keep Away From

Strawberries Tomatoes

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Kale

Direct sow or transplant in early spring or late summer. Harvest outer leaves first to keep plants productive. Kale overwinters in many climates and can provide greens all year.

💧 Watering: Kale needs approximately 0.8 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.

Saving Kale Seeds

🌾 Save Your Own Kale Seeds

Life Cycle Biennial

Pollination Cross-Pollinated (insects)

How to Collect Allow 2nd year flower stalks to dry. Harvest pods when tan.

Storage Store airtight; viable 5 years at 35°F, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 1/2 mile from other brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, etc.) — they all cross.

Get our full Seed Saving Guide for 200 plants →

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Kale by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Kale?

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) takes 50 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Kale grow in?

Kale can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Kale need?

Growing Kale requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.