When to plant kale in Arkansas
Arkansas’s average last spring frost is April 3, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 1 — about 212 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Kale needs 50–65 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arkansas's growing season.
When to plant kale in Arkansas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 6 – Mar 23, with seeds started indoors Feb 13 – Feb 27. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow kale in Arkansas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 13 – Feb 27). Sow seeds ½ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 70°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Mar 6 – Mar 23). Space plants about 16 inches apart in rows 20 inches apart. It tolerates hard frost, so it is one of the first crops to plant. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Arkansas.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: cabbage worm, cabbage looper, cabbage aphid, flea beetle, harlequin bug. Diseases and disorders: black rot, clubroot, downy mildew.
- Harvest (from about May 2 – May 17). Kale takes 50-65 days to reach harvest. Flavour turns sweet after a hard frost, so the fall crop is the good one. Pick lower leaves and let the plant keep growing upward.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Arkansas’s average frost dates. More in the full kale growing guide.
Kale planting dates by USDA zone in Arkansas
Arkansas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the kale dates shift with them.
When to plant kale in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (this page) | April 3 | Mar 6 – Mar 23 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Feb 25 – Mar 14 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 5 – Feb 22 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 15 – Feb 1 |
Questions gardeners in Arkansas ask
When is the best time to plant kale in Arkansas?
Plant kale transplants outdoors in Arkansas between March 6 and March 23. That timing is set by Arkansas's average last spring frost of April 3.
When should I start kale seeds indoors in Arkansas?
Start seeds indoors between February 13 and February 27, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 6.
Can I plant kale in the fall in Arkansas?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 6 and August 23, so the crop matures in cool weather before Arkansas's first frost around November 1.
When will kale planted in Arkansas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, kale is usually ready from about May 2 to May 17, 50-65 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Arkansas?
On average around April 3, with the first fall frost around November 1 - about 212 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.