When to plant Kale

The planting dates depend on your average frost dates. Enter a ZIP code to get yours, or read the USDA table below.

Earliest safe spring planting dates: kale
Average last freezePlant
Jan 30Jan 1 – Feb 1
Feb 8Jan 10 – Feb 1
Feb 18Jan 20 – Feb 10
Feb 28Feb 1 – 20
Mar 10Feb 10 – Mar 1
Mar 20Feb 20 – Mar 10
Mar 30Mar 1 – 20
Apr 10Mar 10 – Apr 1
Apr 20Mar 20 – Apr 10
Apr 30Apr 1 – 20
May 10Apr 10 – May 1
May 20Apr 20 – May 10
May 30May 1 – 30
June 10May 15 – June 1
Latest safe fall planting dates: kale
Average first freezePlant by
Aug 30May 15 – June 15
Sept 10May 15 – June 15
Sept 20June 1 – July 1
Sept 30June 15 – July 15
Oct 10July 1 – Aug 1
Oct 20July 15 – Aug 15
Oct 30July 15 – Sept 1
Nov 10Aug 1 – Sept 15
Nov 20Aug 15 – Oct 15
Nov 30Sept 1 – Dec 1
Dec 10Sept 1 – Dec 31
Dec 20Sept 1 – Dec 31

Source: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5. The bulletin scan.

Kale by state