When to plant kale in District of Columbia
District of Columbia’s average last spring frost is April 10, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 25 — about 198 frost-free days (USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a). Kale needs 50–65 days to mature, which fits comfortably within District of Columbia's growing season.
When to plant kale in District of Columbia: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 13 – Mar 30, with seeds started indoors Feb 20 – Mar 6. 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 District of Columbia, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 20 – Mar 6). 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 13 – Mar 30). 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 District of Columbia.
- 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 9 – May 24). 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 District of Columbia’s average frost dates. More in the full kale growing guide.
Kale planting dates by USDA zone in District of Columbia
District of Columbia spans USDA zones 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 |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (this page) | April 10 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 9 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Mar 17 – Apr 3 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Mar 17 – Apr 3 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Mar 18 – Apr 4 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | Apr 7 – Apr 24 |
Questions gardeners in District of Columbia ask
When is the best time to plant kale in District of Columbia?
Plant kale transplants outdoors in District of Columbia between March 13 and March 30. That timing is set by District of Columbia's average last spring frost of April 10.
When should I start kale seeds indoors in District of Columbia?
Start seeds indoors between February 20 and March 6, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 13.
Can I plant kale in the fall in District of Columbia?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 30 and August 16, so the crop matures in cool weather before District of Columbia's first frost around October 25.
When will kale planted in District of Columbia be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, kale is usually ready from about May 9 to May 24, 50-65 days after planting.
When is the last frost in District of Columbia?
On average around April 10, with the first fall frost around October 25 - about 198 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.