When to Plant Kale

Kale shrugs off frost, and a few frosts make it sweeter. Plant in spring and again in late summer.

Kale planting dates in major cities

CityStart indoorsSow or transplant outsideFall planting
Mesa, AZDec 7 – Dec 21Jan 4 – Jan 18Oct 1 – Oct 29
Phoenix, AZNov 13 – Nov 27Dec 11 – Dec 25Oct 16 – Nov 13
Tucson, AZDec 11 – Dec 25Jan 8 – Jan 22Sep 30 – Oct 28
Anaheim, CANov 10 – Nov 24Dec 8 – Dec 22Oct 16 – Nov 13
Bakersfield, CADec 6 – Dec 20Jan 3 – Jan 17Sep 29 – Oct 27
Fresno, CANov 19 – Dec 3Dec 17 – Dec 31Oct 5 – Nov 2
Irvine, CANov 10 – Nov 24Dec 8 – Dec 22Oct 16 – Nov 13
Long Beach, CANov 14 – Nov 28Dec 12 – Dec 26Oct 27 – Nov 24
Los Angeles, CANov 7 – Nov 21Dec 5 – Dec 19Oct 17 – Nov 14
Oakland, CANov 12 – Nov 26Dec 10 – Dec 24Oct 14 – Nov 11
Riverside, CANov 14 – Nov 28Dec 12 – Dec 26Oct 16 – Nov 13
Sacramento, CANov 17 – Dec 1Dec 15 – Dec 29Oct 7 – Nov 4
San Diego, CANov 11 – Nov 25Dec 9 – Dec 23Oct 12 – Nov 9
San Francisco, CANov 4 – Nov 18Dec 2 – Dec 16Oct 16 – Nov 13
San Jose, CANov 7 – Nov 21Dec 5 – Dec 19Oct 16 – Nov 13
Stockton, CADec 11 – Dec 25Jan 8 – Jan 22Sep 29 – Oct 27
Aurora, COMar 12 – Mar 26Apr 9 – Apr 23Jul 30 – Aug 27
Colorado Springs, COMar 8 – Mar 22Apr 5 – Apr 19Jul 30 – Aug 27
Denver, COMar 9 – Mar 23Apr 6 – Apr 20Jul 30 – Aug 27
Washington, DCFeb 1 – Feb 15Mar 1 – Mar 15Aug 30 – Sep 27
Jacksonville, FLDec 7 – Dec 21Jan 4 – Jan 18Oct 27 – Nov 24
Orlando, FLNov 30 – Dec 14Dec 28 – Jan 11Nov 1 – Nov 29
Tampa, FLNov 25 – Dec 9Dec 23 – Jan 6Nov 3 – Dec 1
Atlanta, GAJan 27 – Feb 10Feb 24 – Mar 10Aug 30 – Sep 27
Chicago, ILFeb 13 – Feb 27Mar 13 – Mar 27Aug 27 – Sep 24
Indianapolis city, INFeb 23 – Mar 9Mar 23 – Apr 6Aug 12 – Sep 9
Wichita, KSFeb 14 – Feb 28Mar 14 – Mar 28Aug 20 – Sep 17
Lexington-Fayette, KYFeb 16 – Mar 2Mar 16 – Mar 30Aug 19 – Sep 16
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KYFeb 9 – Feb 23Mar 9 – Mar 23Aug 23 – Sep 20
New Orleans, LANov 27 – Dec 11Dec 25 – Jan 8Oct 27 – Nov 24
Boston, MAFeb 7 – Feb 21Mar 7 – Mar 21Aug 31 – Sep 28
Baltimore, MDJan 27 – Feb 10Feb 24 – Mar 10Sep 12 – Oct 10
Detroit, MIMar 2 – Mar 16Mar 30 – Apr 13Aug 16 – Sep 13
Minneapolis, MNFeb 26 – Mar 12Mar 26 – Apr 9Aug 7 – Sep 4
Kansas City, MOFeb 7 – Feb 21Mar 7 – Mar 21Aug 24 – Sep 21
Charlotte, NCFeb 2 – Feb 16Mar 2 – Mar 16Aug 25 – Sep 22
Raleigh, NCJan 31 – Feb 14Feb 28 – Mar 14Aug 30 – Sep 27
Omaha, NEFeb 19 – Mar 5Mar 19 – Apr 2Aug 9 – Sep 6
Albuquerque, NMFeb 26 – Mar 12Mar 26 – Apr 9Aug 11 – Sep 8
Henderson, NVNov 25 – Dec 9Dec 23 – Jan 6Oct 6 – Nov 3
Las Vegas, NVNov 29 – Dec 13Dec 27 – Jan 10Oct 1 – Oct 29
New York, NYFeb 4 – Feb 18Mar 4 – Mar 18Sep 10 – Oct 8
Cleveland, OHFeb 11 – Feb 25Mar 11 – Mar 25Sep 3 – Oct 1
Columbus, OHFeb 23 – Mar 9Mar 23 – Apr 6Aug 15 – Sep 12
Oklahoma City, OKFeb 7 – Feb 21Mar 7 – Mar 21Aug 24 – Sep 21
Tulsa, OKFeb 3 – Feb 17Mar 3 – Mar 17Aug 26 – Sep 23
Portland, ORDec 31 – Jan 14Jan 28 – Feb 11Sep 22 – Oct 20
Philadelphia, PAFeb 2 – Feb 16Mar 2 – Mar 16Sep 8 – Oct 6
Memphis, TNJan 19 – Feb 2Feb 16 – Mar 2Sep 7 – Oct 5
Nashville-Davidson, TNFeb 4 – Feb 18Mar 4 – Mar 18Aug 22 – Sep 19
Arlington, TXJan 12 – Jan 26Feb 9 – Feb 23Sep 12 – Oct 10
Austin, TXDec 26 – Jan 9Jan 23 – Feb 6Sep 24 – Oct 22
Dallas, TXJan 5 – Jan 19Feb 2 – Feb 16Sep 20 – Oct 18
El Paso, TXJan 5 – Jan 19Feb 2 – Feb 16Sep 11 – Oct 9
Fort Worth, TXJan 8 – Jan 22Feb 5 – Feb 19Sep 15 – Oct 13
Houston, TXDec 8 – Dec 22Jan 5 – Jan 19Oct 16 – Nov 13
San Antonio, TXDec 31 – Jan 14Jan 28 – Feb 11Sep 19 – Oct 17
Virginia Beach, VAFeb 1 – Feb 15Mar 1 – Mar 15Sep 3 – Oct 1
Seattle, WAJan 11 – Jan 25Feb 8 – Feb 22Sep 14 – Oct 12
Milwaukee, WIMar 1 – Mar 15Mar 29 – Apr 12Aug 9 – Sep 6

Calculated from each city's average (50%) frost dates. In a cold spring, lean toward the later end of each window.

Other crops

TomatoesPeppersEggplantBasilCucumbersZucchini and summer squashPumpkins and winter squashWatermelons and melonsGreen beansSweet cornLettuceSpinachPeasBroccoliCabbageCarrotsRadishesBeetsOnions (sets or transplants)PotatoesGarlic