How long do kale take to grow?

Most kale mature in about 55 to 60 days depending on the variety, measured from planting.

When to Plant Kale

Plant kale by your frost dates, not the calendar: start seeds indoors about 9 weeks before your last spring frost, then plant outdoors about 4 weeks before your last frost. Pick your USDA zone below for exact dates.

Kale planting calendar

spring planting

🌱

Start seeds indoors

Feb 11

🌿

Transplant outdoors

Mar 18

🌾

Projected first harvest

May 12

fall planting

🌱

Start seeds indoors

Jul 28

🌿

Transplant outdoors

Sep 1

🌾

Projected first harvest

Oct 26

JJan

FFeb

MMar

AApr

MMay

JJun

JJul

AAug

SSep

OOct

NNov

DDec

spring planting

fall planting

🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 7a — approximate

Most kale mature in about 55 to 60 days depending on the variety. Dates above use zone 7 as a reference point. Pick your zone below, or set your ZIP in HomeSown for dates tuned to your exact location.

Varieties to grow

3 varieties of kale in the HomeSown library. Tap any for its full grow guide.

Dwarf Blue Curled Vates Kale →Lacinato Kale →Redbor Kale →

Common problems with kale

What to watch for, with identification and treatment for each

Cabbage Maggot Cabbage Root Maggot Diamondback Moth Harlequin Bug Cabbage Worms Cabbage Looper Clubroot Black Rot Tip Burn Boron Deficiency Bolting Bacterial Soft Rot

🌱 Grow kale with a calendar built for your exact yard

HomeSown turns your ZIP code into a personalized planting calendar, watering reminders, and pest help. Free to start.

Start your free garden →

When to plant kale in your zone

Zone 3 →Zone 4 →Zone 5 →Zone 6 →Zone 7 →Zone 8 →Zone 9 →Zone 10 →