When to plant kale in Mississippi
Mississippi’s average last spring frost is March 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 5 — about 230 frost-free days (USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Kale needs 50–65 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Mississippi's growing season.
When to plant kale in Mississippi: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 20 – Mar 9, with seeds started indoors Jan 30 – Feb 13. 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 Mississippi, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 30 – Feb 13). 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 20 – Mar 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 Mississippi.
- 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 18 – May 3). 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 Mississippi’s average frost dates. More in the full kale growing guide.
Kale planting dates by USDA zone in Mississippi
Mississippi spans USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. 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
Questions gardeners in Mississippi ask
When is the best time to plant kale in Mississippi?
Plant kale transplants outdoors in Mississippi between February 20 and March 9. That timing is set by Mississippi's average last spring frost of March 20.
When should I start kale seeds indoors in Mississippi?
Start seeds indoors between January 30 and February 13, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 20.
Can I plant kale in the fall in Mississippi?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 10 and August 27, so the crop matures in cool weather before Mississippi's first frost around November 5.
When will kale planted in Mississippi be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, kale is usually ready from about April 18 to May 3, 50-65 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Mississippi?
On average around March 20, with the first fall frost around November 5 - about 230 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.