Plant Kale in Zone 12b
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 12b
Zone 12b is effectively frost-free, so the Zone 12b calendar for kale is set by heat, not cold. There is no last frost to count backward from and no first frost to beat, which means the question is not whether kale will finish but whether it will sit through the hottest stretch of the year. Kale is a hardy crop needing about 60 days from sowing to harvest.
Planting kale for a fall harvest in Zone 12b
Zone 12b has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow kale here. Sow from about October 1 onward.
Kale is usually the last thing standing in the garden. Frost converts its starch to sugar, so the flavour improves after the first freeze.
Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 12b average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.
Spring vs fall kale in Zone 12b
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Feb 1 | Feb 1 | Apr 2 |
| Fall | Oct onward | Oct onward | Winter |
Kale in nearby zones
Further reading on kale
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How a cold frame keeps kale producing into winter, and when to sow it.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor start dates for kale, counted back from your last frost.
- Hardening off seedlings: a schedule
A day by day plan for moving kale seedlings outdoors.
Other crops in Zone 12b
Frequently asked questions
When should I start kale in Zone 12b?
Direct sow outdoors around Feb 1.
Can I direct sow kale in Zone 12b?
Yes, direct sow around Feb 1.
Can I plant kale in the fall in Zone 12b?
Zone 12b has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow kale here. Sow from about October 1 onward.
Will kale survive frost in Zone 12b?
Kale is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 28 days past the first light frost in Zone 12b. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.