When to Plant Kale in Washington

Q: When should I plant Kale in Washington?

Planting dates for Kale in Washington vary by zone. Washington spans zones 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b.

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.

Washington spans USDA hardiness zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

Find Your County

Click your county for exact Kale planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.

Kale Planting Calendar for Washington

▸ Zone 5b ~178 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 18 · First frost: October 13 · 178 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	March 14	Mar 14 – Mar 28
Transplant Outdoors	April 18	Apr 18 – May 2
Direct Sow	April 4	Apr 4 – Apr 25
Harvest	June 13	Jun 13 – Aug 8
Fall Sowing	August 4	Aug 4 – Aug 18

▸ Zone 6a ~193 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 10 · First frost: October 20 · 193 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	March 6	Mar 6 – Mar 20
Transplant Outdoors	April 10	Apr 10 – Apr 24
Direct Sow	March 27	Mar 27 – Apr 17
Harvest	June 5	Jun 5 – Jul 31
Fall Sowing	August 11	Aug 11 – Aug 25

▸ Zone 6b ~205 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 3 · First frost: October 25 · 205 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 27	Feb 27 – Mar 13
Transplant Outdoors	April 3	Apr 3 – Apr 17
Direct Sow	March 20	Mar 20 – Apr 10
Harvest	May 29	May 29 – Jul 24
Fall Sowing	August 16	Aug 16 – Aug 30

▸ Zone 7a ~221 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 25 · First frost: November 1 · 221 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 18	Feb 18 – Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors	March 25	Mar 25 – Apr 8
Direct Sow	March 11	Mar 11 – Apr 1
Harvest	May 20	May 20 – Jul 15
Fall Sowing	August 23	Aug 23 – Sep 6

▸ Zone 7b ~235 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 18 · First frost: November 8 · 235 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 11	Feb 11 – Feb 25
Transplant Outdoors	March 18	Mar 18 – Apr 1
Direct Sow	March 4	Mar 4 – Mar 25
Harvest	May 13	May 13 – Jul 8
Fall Sowing	August 30	Aug 30 – Sep 13

▸ Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 1	Feb 1 – Feb 15
Transplant Outdoors	March 8	Mar 8 – Mar 22
Direct Sow	February 22	Feb 22 – Mar 15
Harvest	May 3	May 3 – Jun 28
Fall Sowing	September 9	Sep 9 – Sep 23

▸ Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 21	Jan 21 – Feb 4
Transplant Outdoors	February 25	Feb 25 – Mar 11
Direct Sow	February 11	Feb 11 – Mar 4
Harvest	April 22	Apr 22 – Jun 17
Fall Sowing	September 19	Sep 19 – Oct 3

Growing Tips for Washington

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.

Kale in Other States

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Kale in Washington?

Planting dates for Kale in Washington depend on your USDA zone. Washington spans zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Washington for planting?

Washington contains USDA hardiness zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

Blog