Cool-season crop
Kale Planting Windows Before Spring and Fall Frost
Plan kale from seed or transplants with local freeze references, plus depth, spacing, maturity, cold tolerance, and harvest notes.
Reviewed by Garden By ZIP Editorial Review ·
- Spacing
- 12–18 in
- Seed depth
- 0.5–0.5 in
- Typical maturity
- 50–75 days
Quick answer
Start kale indoors 6–8 weeks before the last spring freeze reference, or sow and transplant about 4–2 weeks before it. For fall, count back 8–10 weeks from the first fall freeze reference. Use the planting calendar for local dates.
Planting methods
Kale supports direct sowing, indoor starts, and transplants. It tolerates cool weather, but tender seedlings still need hardening and steady moisture.
Spacing, depth, and maturity
Sow about 1/2 inch deep and give full-size plants 12–18 inches. Typical maturity is 50–75 days; baby leaves can be harvested sooner.
Worked local-calendar example
With an April 19 last spring freeze reference, direct sowing falls in late March or early April. With an October 23 first fall freeze reference, a fall range falls in August. This example does not promise winter survival.
Common mistakes
- Using baby-leaf spacing for mature plants.
- Assuming cold tolerance means seedlings need no hardening.
- Waiting too long to begin a fall crop.
Limitations
Cold tolerance differs by cultivar and plant age. Heat, insects, snow cover, and protection affect harvest beyond the frost-based calculation.