When to plant kale in New Mexico
New Mexico’s average last spring frost is April 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 20 — about 183 frost-free days (USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 9a). Kale needs 50–65 days to mature, which fits comfortably within New Mexico's growing season.
New Mexico 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 New Mexico: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 23 – Apr 9, with seeds started indoors Mar 2 – Mar 16. 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 New Mexico, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 2 – Mar 16). 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 23 – Apr 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 New Mexico.
- 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 19 – Jun 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 New Mexico’s average frost dates. More in the full kale growing guide.
Kale planting dates by USDA zone in New Mexico
New Mexico spans USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 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.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant kale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 | May 10 | Sep 25 | 135 days | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Apr 12 – Apr 29 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 160 days | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Apr 2 – Apr 19 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Mar 18 – Apr 4 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 8 – Mar 25 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Jan 23 – Feb 9 |
When to plant kale in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico (this page) | April 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 9 |
| Arizona | March 15 | Feb 15 – Mar 4 |
Questions gardeners in New Mexico ask
When is the best time to plant kale in New Mexico?
Plant kale transplants outdoors in New Mexico between March 23 and April 9. That timing is set by New Mexico's average last spring frost of April 20; New Mexico spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start kale seeds indoors in New Mexico?
Start seeds indoors between March 2 and March 16, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 23.
Can I plant kale in the fall in New Mexico?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 25 and August 11, so the crop matures in cool weather before New Mexico's first frost around October 20.
When will kale planted in New Mexico be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, kale is usually ready from about May 19 to June 3, 50-65 days after planting.
When is the last frost in New Mexico?
On average around April 20, with the first fall frost around October 20 - about 183 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.