When to plant kale in North Carolina
North Carolina’s average last spring frost is April 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 25 — about 203 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b). Kale needs 50–65 days to mature, which fits comfortably within North Carolina's growing season.
North Carolina 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 North Carolina: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 8 – Mar 25, with seeds started indoors Feb 15 – Mar 1. 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 North Carolina, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 15 – Mar 1). 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 8 – Mar 25). 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 North Carolina.
- 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 4 – May 19). 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 North Carolina’s average frost dates. More in the full kale growing guide.
Kale planting dates by USDA zone in North Carolina
North Carolina spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina (this page) | April 5 | Mar 8 – Mar 25 |
| South Carolina | March 25 | Feb 25 – Mar 14 |
| Georgia | March 25 | Feb 25 – Mar 14 |
| Tennessee | April 10 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
| Kentucky | April 18 | Mar 21 – Apr 7 |
Questions gardeners in North Carolina ask
When is the best time to plant kale in North Carolina?
Plant kale transplants outdoors in North Carolina between March 8 and March 25. That timing is set by North Carolina's average last spring frost of April 5; North Carolina spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start kale seeds indoors in North Carolina?
Start seeds indoors between February 15 and March 1, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 8.
Can I plant kale in the fall in North Carolina?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 30 and August 16, so the crop matures in cool weather before North Carolina's first frost around October 25.
When will kale planted in North Carolina be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, kale is usually ready from about May 4 to May 19, 50-65 days after planting.
When is the last frost in North Carolina?
On average around April 5, with the first fall frost around October 25 - about 203 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.