How to grow kale
Harvest lower leaves and leave the crown; one plant crops from spring to hard freeze.
Your kale dates
Companions
Keep apart from
Rotation and family
Kale belongs to the brassicas (Brassicaceae). Hungry for nitrogen; clubroot spores persist in soil for years.
In a four-bed crop rotation it goes in the leaf & brassica bed. Avoid growing it where any brassicas grew in the last three years.
When to plant kale by zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow / plant out | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | Apr 22 – May 13 | Jun 24 – Jul 15 |
| 4 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | Apr 14 – May 5 | Jul 4 – Jul 25 |
| 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 2 – Apr 23 | Jul 16 – Aug 6 |
| 6 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Jul 28 – Aug 18 |
| 7 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Mar 11 – Apr 1 | Aug 7 – Aug 28 |
| 8 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 26 – Mar 19 | Aug 20 – Sep 10 |
| 9 | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Jan 25 – Feb 15 | Sep 10 – Oct 1 |
| 10 | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Jan 4 – Jan 25 | Sep 25 – Oct 16 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Kale questions
When should I plant kale?
Plant kale outdoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost. Start seeds indoors about 6 weeks before your last frost. For a fall crop, sow about 12 weeks before your first fall frost.
How far apart should I plant kale?
About 12 inches apart, or 1 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with kale?
Traditional companions include beet, dill, nasturtium, onion. Keep it away from strawberry, tomato.
How long does kale take to grow?
Typically 50–65 days from sowing to first harvest, depending on variety and weather.