When to plant kale in California
California’s average last spring frost is February 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 1 — about 284 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 10b). Kale needs 50–65 days to mature, which fits comfortably within California's growing season.
California covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant kale in California: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Jan 23 – Feb 9, with seeds started indoors Jan 2 – Jan 16. 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 California, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 2 – Jan 16). 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 (Jan 23 – Feb 9). 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 California.
- 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 Mar 21 – Apr 5). 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 California’s average frost dates. More in the full kale growing guide.
Kale planting dates by USDA zone in California
California spans USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 10b. 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.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant kale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 160 days | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Apr 2 – Apr 19 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Mar 18 – Apr 4 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 8 – Mar 25 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Jan 23 – Feb 9 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 | Dec 15 | 330 days | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Jan 2 – Jan 19 |
Questions gardeners in California ask
When is the best time to plant kale in California?
Plant kale transplants outdoors in California between January 23 and February 9. That timing is set by California's average last spring frost of February 20; California spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start kale seeds indoors in California?
Start seeds indoors between January 2 and January 16, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from January 23.
Can I plant kale in the fall in California?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between September 5 and September 22, so the crop matures in cool weather before California's first frost around December 1.
When will kale planted in California be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, kale is usually ready from about March 21 to April 5, 50-65 days after planting.
When is the last frost in California?
On average around February 20, with the first fall frost around December 1 - about 284 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.