DibbleWhen to plant Kale
Start kale indoors 6 weeks before last frost and transplant 2 weeks before. It's hardy and even sweeter after a fall frost.
When to plant Kale by zone
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Sow or transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April 3 | May 1 | June 30 |
| Zone 4 | March 29 | April 26 | June 25 |
| Zone 5 | March 19 | April 16 | June 15 |
| Zone 6 | March 10 | April 7 | June 6 |
| Zone 7 | February 27 | March 27 | May 26 |
| Zone 8 | February 14 | March 14 | May 13 |
| Zone 9 | January 18 | February 15 | April 16 |
| Zone 10 | December 20 | January 17 | March 18 |
| Zone 11 | November 20 | December 18 | February 16 |
These dates use typical frost dates for each zone. Dibble tunes them to your exact ZIP and lets you adjust frost dates for your own yard.
Companion plants
Good neighbors for Kale:
Better kept apart:
Family and rotation
Kale is in the brassicas family. Hungry leaf crops. Follow legumes; avoid following other brassicas. Learn about crop rotation.
Related crops
Broccoli
When to plantRadish
When to plantCabbage
When to plantCauliflower
When to plantBrussels Sprouts
When to plantTurnip
When to plantQuestions
When should I plant kale?
It depends on your zone. Kale is a hardy crop, so the timing follows your last spring frost. Look up your zone in the table below for exact start, sow, and harvest dates, or open Dibble and enter your ZIP to get your own calendar.
How long does kale take to grow?
About 60 days from transplant to the first harvest, with a picking window of roughly 60 days after that.
What grows well with kale?
Good companions include Onion, Beet, Potato, herbs. Keep it away from Tomato, Strawberry.
Plant at the right time this season
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