How to Grow Kale
Brassica oleracea (Acephala group)
Tough, cold-hardy leafy green that actually tastes sweeter after frost.
By the Plants by Zone Editorial Team · Reviewed June 1, 2026
About kale
Kale is among the hardiest vegetables you can grow, shrugging off hard frosts that finish other crops — and frost actually improves its flavor by converting starches to sugars. It’s productive over a long season, tolerates some shade, and keeps giving from a single planting if you pick leaves from the bottom up.
When to plant and harvest kale
Timing is relative to your frost dates. Find your USDA zone for exact dates, or browse the month-by-month calendars.
Start seeds indoors
4–6 weeks before last frost
Transplant outdoors
2–4 weeks before last frost
Direct sow
Early spring or late summer for fall
Harvest
Spring through hard frost; best after frost
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How to grow kale step by step
- 1
Start indoors or direct-sow ¼ in deep; kale germinates readily.
- 2
Transplant or thin to 12–18 in; it grows into a substantial plant.
- 3
Keep watered and feed occasionally for tender leaves.
- 4
Harvest lower leaves first and let the plant keep growing upward.
- 5
Leave fall plantings out through frost — the cold sweetens them.
Common problems growing kale
⚠ Cabbage worms (green caterpillars)
Hand-pick or use row cover; Bt is an organic option.
⚠ Aphids
Blast with water and encourage ladybugs; check leaf undersides.
⚠ Yellowing lower leaves
Normal as plant ages, or a sign it needs feeding.
✗ Keep away from
🧺 Harvesting kale
Pick the outer, lower leaves once they’re hand-sized, leaving the central growing point. A fall crop harvested after frost is noticeably sweeter.
Kale: frequently asked questions
When should you plant kale?＋
In most regions you start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost, then transplant 2–4 weeks before last frost — or direct sow early spring or late summer for fall. Timing is relative to your last frost, so find your USDA hardiness zone for the exact planting dates where you live.
Does kale come back every year?＋
It’s a biennial — it grows leaves the first year and flowers the second. Most gardeners grow it as an annual.
Can I harvest kale in winter?＋
In many zones yes — it survives hard frost and even snow, often providing greens deep into winter.
Sources & review
Written and maintained by the Plants by Zone Editorial Team. Planting times are based on USDA hardiness zones and NOAA frost-date normals, with care guidance drawn from Cooperative Extension sources. Last reviewed June 1, 2026.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone MapNOAA U.S. climate normalsCooperative Extension
Grow kale in your zone
See exactly when to plant and what else to grow alongside kale, tailored to your USDA hardiness zone.
