Kale in Zone 2a & 2b
Brassica oleracea
When to plant kale in zone 2b
Zones 2a and 2b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Kale tolerates either.
| Start indoors | Apr 8–Apr 15 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 29–May 6 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 28–Jul 5 (~60 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Kale is about as low-maintenance as vegetables get, and one of the few that improves with cold, a hard frost sweetens the leaves rather than ruining them. It can be started indoors or direct-seeded, and either way it tends to outlast most other greens into late fall.
How kale fits zone 2's season
Zone 2b's frost-free window runs about 104 days, from May 20 to September 1. Kale needs about 60 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
- Onion: Onion scent is reputed to confuse cabbage moths that target kale. The research behind this is real but garlic-specific (field trials intercropping garlic with cabbage reduced diamondback moth damage) — onion hasn't been tested the same way, so treat the onion version as a reasonable extrapolation, not a directly measured result. (usually zones 3-10, so not a pairing for zone 2b)
Where to buy kale seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing kale" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 2b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Kale in USDA zone 2b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest