How to grow Kale
Updated October 2026
Kale is one of the hardiest and most productive cool-season greens, and frost actually sweetens it. Grow it in spring and fall in the North, through the cool months from fall to late winter in the South, and pick the outer leaves for months from the same plants.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Kale in Florida
Not to be confused with: Kale and collard greens are the same species and are grown the same way. Collards have broad, flat leaves.
Where to plant
Kale needs full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter worked in. It grows best below about 75°F. Hot summer weather slows growth and makes the leaves bitter, while light frosts improve the flavor. Young plants take temperatures down to about 25°F, and mature plants are extremely hardy.
- Florida: plant from September to February in North and Central Florida, and September to January in South Florida.
- The Gulf South, Texas, the Desert Southwest and Southern California: sow from late summer or fall into late winter for a cool-season crop.
- The Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic and Southern Plains: sow in late winter or early spring, and again in late summer for fall and winter harvests.
- The Northeast, Midwest, Northern Plains, Mountain West and Pacific Northwest: set transplants out 4 to 5 weeks before the last spring frost, and sow a fall crop 50 to 75 days before you want to start picking, ideally 2 to 3 weeks after the first fall frost.
- Alaska: sow or transplant in late spring for a summer and fall crop.
Choosing a variety
Utah State University Extension recommends 'Starbor' (green, about 55 days), 'Red Russian' (purple, about 50 days) and 'Scarlet' (red, about 55 days) for production, eating quality and cold hardiness. Curly, flat-leaved and lacinato (dinosaur) types are all grown the same way.
How to plant
- Sow seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, or start transplants indoors 5 to 6 weeks ahead so they have 4 to 6 true leaves at planting.
- Thin seedlings when they have 3 or 4 true leaves; the thinnings can be replanted nearby.
- Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in rows about 2 feet apart.
- For fall crops, choose a quick variety and sow in mid to late summer so plants mature in cool weather.
Watering and feeding
Give about 1 to 2 inches of water a week, deeply rather than often, and try to keep the soil evenly moist. Swings between wet and dry make the leaves tough and strong flavored. Mulch helps hold moisture and keeps the soil cool once the weather warms.
Work a complete fertilizer or compost into the bed before planting, guided by a soil test. About 4 weeks after transplanting or thinning, side-dress with a little nitrogen fertilizer a few inches from the plants and water it in.
Pruning and care through the year
- Cover young plants with fabric row cover to keep off cabbage worms and flea beetles and to protect them from frost.
- Keep weeds down while plants are small, cultivating shallowly so you do not damage roots.
- Rotate kale with crops outside the cabbage family to limit clubroot and other soil-borne diseases.
Harvesting
Start picking when the leaves reach full size. Strip the oldest, lower leaves first and leave the young center leaves to keep growing, so one planting crops for months. Fall kale tastes sweetest after a few frosts, and in many areas plants can stay in the garden through winter.
Kale keeps 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator at close to 32°F with high humidity.
Companion planting
Kale shares pests with other cabbage-family crops, so many gardeners grow it with aromatic herbs and flowers that draw in beneficial insects.
Good companions
- Onion Takes little space and grows in the same cool season.
- Beet A cool-season root crop that does not compete above ground.
- Dill Its flowers attract small beneficial wasps that prey on caterpillars.
- Nasturtium Its flowers draw in pollinators and other beneficial insects.
- Celery A traditional pairing that grows in the same cool conditions.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to kale.
- Strawberry Traditional advice keeps cabbage-family crops away from strawberries.
- Tomato A warm-season crop with different timing; traditionally kept apart.
Pests and diseases
Kale has the same pests as cabbage and broccoli. Row covers and regular checks under the leaves prevent most damage.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage worms Green caterpillars and loopers chewing holes in leaves, from white butterflies and gray-brown moths.
- Aphids Gray-green or black clusters under leaves, which crinkle and curl.
- Flea beetles Tiny holes in seedling leaves; heavy attacks can kill seedlings.
Diseases to watch for
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on top of leaves with gray fuzz beneath in cool, damp weather.
- Clubroot Wilting plants with swollen, distorted roots; rotate crops and lime acid soil.
Common questions
When should I plant kale?
In the North, set transplants out 4 to 5 weeks before the last spring frost and sow again in mid to late summer for fall. In Florida plant from September to February. Kale grows best below about 75°F.
Does frost make kale taste better?
Yes. Light frosts improve the flavor of fall kale, and mature plants are hardy enough to keep picking through much of the winter in many areas.
Why is my kale bitter?
Heat and uneven watering. Summer heat makes leaves bitter and tough, and so do swings between dry and wet soil. Grow kale in the cool seasons and water deeply each week.
How do I harvest kale so it keeps growing?
Pick the oldest, outer leaves once they reach full size and leave the center leaves to grow. One planting can then crop for months.
What is eating holes in my kale?
Usually cabbage worms or loopers, the green caterpillars of white butterflies and moths, or flea beetles on young plants. Cover plants with row cover and check under the leaves.
How far apart should I plant kale?
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in rows about 2 feet apart.
Sources we checked: Utah State University Extension: How to Grow Kale in Your Garden; UF/IFAS EDIS: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021).
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