US Grow Zones

When to plant kale by zone

Last updated · Sources: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals frost dates; timing rules described in our methodology

Brassica oleracea (Acephala) is a cool-season crop that is hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 4 weeks before to 1 week before the last frost; direct sow from 4 weeks before to 1 week before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 6–10 weeks before the first fall frost.

SeasonCoolhardy to frost
Days to maturity55–75from sowing
Min. soil temp45°F7.2°C, at planting
Spacing12–18 inin the row

Kale planting dates by zone

Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Sep 1 – Feb 15.

Kale planting windows by hardiness zoneKale planting windows by USDA zone. zone 1a: indoor Apr 3–Apr 17, transplant May 1–May 22, direct May 1–May 22; zone 1b: indoor Apr 3–Apr 17, transplant May 1–May 22, direct May 1–May 22; zone 2a: indoor Mar 26–Apr 9, transplant Apr 23–May 14, direct Apr 23–May 14, fall Jun 23–Jul 21; zone 2b: indoor Mar 25–Apr 8, transplant Apr 22–May 13, direct Apr 22–May 13, fall Jun 25–Jul 23; zone 3a: indoor Apr 9–Apr 23, transplant May 7–May 28, direct May 7–May 28; zone 3b: indoor Mar 29–Apr 12, transplant Apr 26–May 17, direct Apr 26–May 17, fall Jul 10–Aug 7; zone 4a: indoor Mar 17–Mar 31, transplant Apr 14–May 5, direct Apr 14–May 5, fall Jul 19–Aug 16; zone 4b: indoor Mar 10–Mar 24, transplant Apr 7–Apr 28, direct Apr 7–Apr 28, fall Jul 26–Aug 23; zone 5a: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant Apr 6–Apr 27, direct Apr 6–Apr 27, fall Jul 25–Aug 22; zone 5b: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant Apr 6–Apr 27, direct Apr 6–Apr 27, fall Jul 31–Aug 28; zone 6a: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant Apr 6–Apr 27, direct Apr 6–Apr 27, fall Jul 31–Aug 28; zone 6b: indoor Mar 1–Mar 15, transplant Mar 29–Apr 19, direct Mar 29–Apr 19, fall Aug 12–Sep 9; zone 7a: indoor Feb 25–Mar 11, transplant Mar 25–Apr 15, direct Mar 25–Apr 15, fall Aug 12–Sep 9; zone 7b: indoor Feb 13–Feb 27, transplant Mar 13–Apr 3, direct Mar 13–Apr 3, fall Aug 18–Sep 15; zone 8a: indoor Feb 4–Feb 18, transplant Mar 4–Mar 25, direct Mar 4–Mar 25, fall Aug 25–Sep 22; zone 8b: indoor Jan 25–Feb 8, transplant Feb 22–Mar 15, direct Feb 22–MaJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1a*1b*2a2b*3a*3b*4a4b5a5b6a6b7a7b8a8b9a9b10a10b11a11b*12a*12b13a*13b*Start indoorsPlant outDirect sowFall cropFrost-free climate window · * estimated zone
Planting windows by zone, drawn from the table below. Zones marked * have no major city on this site and use NOAA station estimates.
ZoneMedian last frostStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop
1a*May 29Apr 3 – Apr 17May 1 – May 22May 1 – May 22—
1b*May 29Apr 3 – Apr 17May 1 – May 22May 1 – May 22—
2aMay 21Mar 26 – Apr 9Apr 23 – May 14Apr 23 – May 14Jun 23 – Jul 21
2b*May 20Mar 25 – Apr 8Apr 22 – May 13Apr 22 – May 13Jun 25 – Jul 23
3a*Jun 4Apr 9 – Apr 23May 7 – May 28May 7 – May 28—
3b*May 24Mar 29 – Apr 12Apr 26 – May 17Apr 26 – May 17Jul 10 – Aug 7
4aMay 12Mar 17 – Mar 31Apr 14 – May 5Apr 14 – May 5Jul 19 – Aug 16
4bMay 5Mar 10 – Mar 24Apr 7 – Apr 28Apr 7 – Apr 28Jul 26 – Aug 23
5aMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23Apr 6 – Apr 27Apr 6 – Apr 27Jul 25 – Aug 22
5bMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23Apr 6 – Apr 27Apr 6 – Apr 27Jul 31 – Aug 28
6aMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23Apr 6 – Apr 27Apr 6 – Apr 27Jul 31 – Aug 28
6bApr 26Mar 1 – Mar 15Mar 29 – Apr 19Mar 29 – Apr 19Aug 12 – Sep 9
7aApr 22Feb 25 – Mar 11Mar 25 – Apr 15Mar 25 – Apr 15Aug 12 – Sep 9
7bApr 10Feb 13 – Feb 27Mar 13 – Apr 3Mar 13 – Apr 3Aug 18 – Sep 15
8aApr 1Feb 4 – Feb 18Mar 4 – Mar 25Mar 4 – Mar 25Aug 25 – Sep 22
8bMar 22Jan 25 – Feb 8Feb 22 – Mar 15Feb 22 – Mar 15Sep 1 – Sep 29
9aMar 11Jan 14 – Jan 28Feb 11 – Mar 4Feb 11 – Mar 4Sep 10 – Oct 8
9bFeb 12Dec 18 – Jan 1Jan 15 – Feb 5Jan 15 – Feb 5Sep 24 – Oct 22
10aJan 26Dec 1 – Dec 15Dec 29 – Jan 19Dec 29 – Jan 19Oct 6 – Nov 3
10bJan 27Dec 2 – Dec 16Dec 30 – Jan 20Dec 30 – Jan 20Oct 4 – Nov 1
11aRareSep 1 – Feb 15
11b*RareSep 1 – Feb 15
12a*RareSep 1 – Feb 15
12bRareSep 1 – Feb 15
13a*RareSep 1 – Feb 15
13b*RareSep 1 – Feb 15

Growing tips

Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.

Exact dates for your city

Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.

Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets

Kale planting questions

When should I start kale seeds indoors?

About 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost. Using the median frost dates of cities on this site: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Mar 9 – Mar 23; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 1 – Mar 15; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Feb 4 – Feb 18.

When can I plant kale outside?

Set out transplants from 4 weeks before to 1 week before the last frost, once the soil reaches about 45°F (7.2°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Apr 6 – Apr 27; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 29 – Apr 19; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Mar 4 – Mar 25.

Can I grow kale as a fall crop?

Yes. Sow or plant 6–10 weeks before your first fall frost. For a first frost around Oct 15, that is Aug 6 – Sep 3. Add about two weeks to the days to maturity for slower fall growth — see fall planting.

How long does kale take to grow?

55–75 days from sowing. As a hardy cool-season crop it grows best in cool weather, so spring plantings should mature before summer heat, and fall plantings need about two extra weeks because days are shorter.

When do you plant kale where frost is rare?

In frost-free climates, plant kale Sep 1 – Feb 15, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.