When to plant kale in Louisiana
Louisiana’s average last spring frost is March 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 255 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b). Kale needs 50–65 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Louisiana's growing season.
When to plant kale in Louisiana: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 5 – Feb 22, with seeds started indoors Jan 15 – Jan 29. 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 Louisiana, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 15 – Jan 29). 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 (Feb 5 – Feb 22). 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 Louisiana.
- 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 Apr 3 – Apr 18). 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 Louisiana’s average frost dates. More in the full kale growing guide.
Kale planting dates by USDA zone in Louisiana
Louisiana spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana (this page) | March 5 | Feb 5 – Feb 22 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Feb 25 – Mar 14 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 15 – Feb 1 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 6 – Mar 23 |
Questions gardeners in Louisiana ask
When is the best time to plant kale in Louisiana?
Plant kale transplants outdoors in Louisiana between February 5 and February 22. That timing is set by Louisiana's average last spring frost of March 5.
When should I start kale seeds indoors in Louisiana?
Start seeds indoors between January 15 and January 29, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 5.
Can I plant kale in the fall in Louisiana?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 20 and September 6, so the crop matures in cool weather before Louisiana's first frost around November 15.
When will kale planted in Louisiana be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, kale is usually ready from about April 3 to April 18, 50-65 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Louisiana?
On average around March 5, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 255 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.