How to grow kale in a raised bed
Very cold-hardy. A light frost makes the leaves sweeter.
Spacing1 plant per square foot
How to startStart seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost, or buy young plants
When to plantAbout 4 weeks before your last spring frost
Time to harvestAbout 55 days
Grows toAbout 20 in tall
When to plant kale in your zone
Dates are based on the average frost dates for each zone. Don't know your zone? Enter your ZIP code in the planner.
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the bed | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 8 | Apr 22 | Jul 3 |
| Zone 3b | Apr 3 | Apr 17 | Jul 8 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 31 | Apr 14 | Jul 14 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | Jul 21 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 23 | Apr 6 | Jul 26 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 17 | Mar 31 | Aug 2 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 11 | Mar 25 | Aug 7 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 4 | Mar 18 | Aug 12 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 25 | Mar 11 | Aug 19 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 18 | Mar 4 | Aug 26 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 11 | Feb 25 | Sep 2 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 1 | Feb 15 | Sep 10 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 18 | Feb 1 | Sep 23 |
| Zone 9b | Jan 4 | Jan 18 | Oct 2 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 20 | Jan 3 | Oct 12 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Dec 18 | Oct 23 |
Tips for raised beds
- In square-foot gardening, plant one plant in each 1 × 1 ft square.
- It stays fairly short, so it can go near the south (sunny) edge of the bed.
- Most vegetables and fruit need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Where to buy kale seeds
Burpee · True Leaf Market · Botanical Interests
Plan where your kale go. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
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