When to plant kale in Florida
Florida’s average last spring frost is February 12, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 10 — about 301 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a). Kale needs 50–65 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Florida's growing season.
Florida 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 Florida: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Jan 15 – Feb 1, with seeds started indoors Dec 25 – Jan 8. 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 Florida, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Dec 25 – Jan 8). 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 15 – Feb 1). 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 Florida.
- 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 13 – Mar 28). 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 Florida’s average frost dates. More in the full kale growing guide.
Kale planting dates by USDA zone in Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (this page) | February 12 | Jan 15 – Feb 1 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Feb 25 – Mar 14 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 5 – Feb 22 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 6 – Mar 23 |
Questions gardeners in Florida ask
When is the best time to plant kale in Florida?
Plant kale transplants outdoors in Florida between January 15 and February 1. That timing is set by Florida's average last spring frost of February 12; Florida spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start kale seeds indoors in Florida?
Start seeds indoors between December 25 and January 8, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from January 15.
Can I plant kale in the fall in Florida?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between September 14 and October 1, so the crop matures in cool weather before Florida's first frost around December 10.
When will kale planted in Florida be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, kale is usually ready from about March 13 to March 28, 50-65 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Florida?
On average around February 12, with the first fall frost around December 10 - about 301 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.