When to plant kale in West Virginia
West Virginia’s average last spring frost is May 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 5 — about 153 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a). Kale needs 50–65 days to mature, which fits comfortably within West Virginia's growing season.
When to plant kale in West Virginia: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 7 – Apr 24, with seeds started indoors Mar 17 – Mar 31. 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 West Virginia, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 17 – Mar 31). 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 (Apr 7 – Apr 24). 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 West Virginia.
- 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 Jun 3 – Jun 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 West Virginia’s average frost dates. More in the full kale growing guide.
Kale planting dates by USDA zone in West Virginia
West Virginia spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia (this page) | May 5 | Apr 7 – Apr 24 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 9 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Mar 17 – Apr 3 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Mar 17 – Apr 3 |
| District of Columbia | April 10 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Mar 18 – Apr 4 |
Questions gardeners in West Virginia ask
When is the best time to plant kale in West Virginia?
Plant kale transplants outdoors in West Virginia between April 7 and April 24. That timing is set by West Virginia's average last spring frost of May 5.
When should I start kale seeds indoors in West Virginia?
Start seeds indoors between March 17 and March 31, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 7.
Can I plant kale in the fall in West Virginia?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 10 and July 27, so the crop matures in cool weather before West Virginia's first frost around October 5.
When will kale planted in West Virginia be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, kale is usually ready from about June 3 to June 18, 50-65 days after planting.
When is the last frost in West Virginia?
On average around May 5, with the first fall frost around October 5 - about 153 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.