LawnWeather

When to plant kale

Start seeds indoors 6 weeks to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. Plant outside 3 weeks to 5 weeks before the last spring frost. For a fall crop, transplant 8 weeks to 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Frost makes kale sweeter; it keeps producing well into winter.

Hardy: shrugs off frost.

Kale planting dates by state

CityStart indoorsPlant outsideFall crop
Birmingham, ALJan 19 – Feb 2Feb 9 – Feb 23Sep 8 – Sep 22
Tucson, AZDec 22 – Jan 5Jan 12 – Jan 26Oct 9 – Oct 23
Little Rock, ARJan 21 – Feb 4Feb 11 – Feb 25Aug 30 – Sep 13
Sacramento, CADec 14 – Dec 28Jan 4 – Jan 18—
Denver, COFeb 28 – Mar 14Mar 21 – Apr 4Aug 4 – Aug 18
Hartford, CTFeb 12 – Feb 26Mar 5 – Mar 19Aug 24 – Sep 7
Wilmington, DEFeb 6 – Feb 20Feb 27 – Mar 13Sep 3 – Sep 17
Washington, DCJan 29 – Feb 12Feb 19 – Mar 5Sep 4 – Sep 18
Jacksonville, FLNov 29 – Dec 13Dec 20 – Jan 3—
Atlanta, GAJan 11 – Jan 25Feb 1 – Feb 15Sep 11 – Sep 25
Boise, IDFeb 23 – Mar 9Mar 16 – Mar 30Aug 8 – Aug 22
Chicago, ILFeb 9 – Feb 23Mar 2 – Mar 16Aug 29 – Sep 12
Indianapolis, INFeb 13 – Feb 27Mar 6 – Mar 20Aug 23 – Sep 6
Des Moines, IAFeb 24 – Mar 10Mar 17 – Mar 31Aug 20 – Sep 3
Wichita, KSFeb 14 – Feb 28Mar 7 – Mar 21Aug 20 – Sep 3
Louisville, KYFeb 9 – Feb 23Mar 2 – Mar 16Aug 25 – Sep 8
New Orleans, LANov 28 – Dec 12Dec 19 – Jan 2—
Portland, MEFeb 26 – Mar 12Mar 19 – Apr 2Aug 24 – Sep 7
Baltimore, MDJan 29 – Feb 12Feb 19 – Mar 5Sep 9 – Sep 23
Boston, MAFeb 6 – Feb 20Feb 27 – Mar 13Sep 6 – Sep 20
Detroit, MIFeb 25 – Mar 11Mar 18 – Apr 1Aug 29 – Sep 12
Minneapolis, MNFeb 26 – Mar 12Mar 19 – Apr 2Aug 15 – Aug 29
Jackson, MSJan 3 – Jan 17Jan 24 – Feb 7Sep 4 – Sep 18
Kansas City, MOFeb 12 – Feb 26Mar 5 – Mar 19Aug 20 – Sep 3
Billings, MTMar 5 – Mar 19Mar 26 – Apr 9Aug 5 – Aug 19
Omaha, NEFeb 23 – Mar 9Mar 16 – Mar 30Aug 12 – Aug 26
Las Vegas, NVDec 11 – Dec 25Jan 1 – Jan 15—
Manchester, NHMar 1 – Mar 15Mar 22 – Apr 5Aug 10 – Aug 24
Newark, NJFeb 4 – Feb 18Feb 25 – Mar 11Sep 3 – Sep 17
Albuquerque, NMFeb 18 – Mar 4Mar 11 – Mar 25Aug 20 – Sep 3
New York City, NYFeb 3 – Feb 17Feb 24 – Mar 10Sep 13 – Sep 27
Charlotte, NCJan 31 – Feb 14Feb 21 – Mar 7Sep 1 – Sep 15
Fargo, NDMar 15 – Mar 29Apr 5 – Apr 19Aug 1 – Aug 15
Columbus, OHFeb 19 – Mar 5Mar 12 – Mar 26Aug 24 – Sep 7
Oklahoma City, OKFeb 3 – Feb 17Feb 24 – Mar 10Aug 27 – Sep 10
Portland, ORJan 12 – Jan 26Feb 2 – Feb 16Sep 16 – Sep 30
Philadelphia, PAFeb 3 – Feb 17Feb 24 – Mar 10Sep 7 – Sep 21
Providence, RIFeb 10 – Feb 24Mar 3 – Mar 17Aug 27 – Sep 10
Columbia, SCJan 12 – Jan 26Feb 2 – Feb 16Sep 14 – Sep 28
Sioux Falls, SDMar 3 – Mar 17Mar 24 – Apr 7Aug 2 – Aug 16
Nashville, TNFeb 6 – Feb 20Feb 27 – Mar 13Aug 26 – Sep 9
Dallas, TXDec 26 – Jan 9Jan 16 – Jan 30Sep 24 – Oct 8
Salt Lake City, UTFeb 10 – Feb 24Mar 3 – Mar 17Aug 17 – Aug 31
Burlington, VTFeb 25 – Mar 11Mar 18 – Apr 1Aug 23 – Sep 6
Virginia Beach, VAJan 14 – Jan 28Feb 4 – Feb 18Sep 17 – Oct 1
Seattle, WAJan 15 – Jan 29Feb 5 – Feb 19Sep 6 – Sep 20
Charleston, WVFeb 24 – Mar 10Mar 17 – Mar 31Aug 24 – Sep 7
Milwaukee, WIFeb 27 – Mar 13Mar 20 – Apr 3Aug 23 – Sep 6
Cheyenne, WYMar 18 – Apr 1Apr 8 – Apr 22Jul 27 – Aug 10

Not your city? Every city planting calendar lists all 19 vegetables.

Helpful gear

Seed starting kitTrays with humidity domes for starting seeds indoors.See options on AmazonLED grow lightKeeps indoor seedlings short and sturdy.See options on AmazonFrost clothCovers tender plants on a surprise frost night.See options on Amazon

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