🥬When to Plant Kale (2026)
Frost actually sweetens it. Plant early spring and again for fall.
- Type: Cool-season
- Method: Direct sow or transplant
- Days to harvest: 55
- Spacing: 12" apart
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
- Companions: beets, onion, herbs
Is Kale right for your USDA zone?
Kale is a cool-season crop, which means it thrives in the mild temperatures of spring and fall. Gardeners in zones 3a through 7b get the longest kale season — you can plant in early spring and again in late summer for a fall harvest. In warmer zones (8a-10b), grow kale as a winter crop from October through February when temperatures are coolest.
Kale needs about 55 days from sowing to harvest, so any zone with at least 69frost-free days can grow it successfully. Check your zone's specific dates in the table below.
Kale planting dates by zone (2026)
| Zone | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 10 | Apr 24 | Jun 18 |
| Zone 3b | Apr 10 | Apr 24 | Jun 18 |
| Zone 4a | Apr 5 | Apr 19 | Jun 13 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 31 | Apr 14 | Jun 8 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 26 | Apr 9 | Jun 3 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 21 | Apr 4 | May 29 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 16 | Mar 30 | May 24 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 11 | Mar 25 | May 19 |
| Zone 7a | Mar 6 | Mar 20 | May 14 |
| Zone 7b | Mar 1 | Mar 15 | May 9 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 18 | Mar 4 | Apr 28 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 8 | Feb 22 | Apr 18 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 21 | Feb 4 | Mar 31 |
| Zone 9b | Jan 6 | Jan 20 | Mar 16 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 27 | Jan 10 | Mar 6 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 11 | Dec 25 | Feb 18 |