Growing Kale in Zone 5
When to plant and harvest kale in Zone 5— based on your zone's frost dates.
Zone 5 sits comfortably within kale's best range (Zones 3–11), so it grows well here on a standard schedule.
Kale planting calendar for Zone 5
These months are derived from Zone 5's frost dates — last frost around Late April – early May, first frost around Early – mid October.
Start indoors
July
Sow outdoors
April
Transplant
August
Harvest
September and October
Kale care at a glance
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- 1–1.5 inches per week
- Spacing
- 12–18 in apart
- Days to maturity
- 50–65 days
- Best zones
- 3–11
Growing kale in Zone 5: FAQs
Can you grow kale in Zone 5?＋
Zone 5 sits comfortably within kale's best range (Zones 3–11), so it grows well here on a standard schedule.
When should I plant kale in Zone 5?＋
In Zone 5, start seeds indoors around July. Zone 5's last spring frost is typically Late April – early May and its first fall frost around Early – mid October, which sets the planting window.
When to harvest kale in Zone 5?＋
Expect to harvest kale in Zone 5 around September and October, depending on the season and variety.
Full Kale guide →
Complete care, problems, companions, and harvest tips.
Zone 5 overview →
Frost dates, climate, and everything to grow here.
June in Zone 5 →
What to sow, transplant, and harvest this month.