When can I plant curly kale outside?

Direct sow or transplant 4 weeks before your last spring frost.

How long until curly kale is ready to harvest?

55-65 days. Leaves are 8-10 inches long; harvest outer leaves first leaving center growth intact

When to Plant Curly Kale

Brassica oleracea var. sabellica

leafy_greenZones 2–10beginner

Nutrient-dense superfood with ruffled blue-green leaves. Extremely cold-hardy and improves in flavor after frost. Versatile in salads, smoothies, and sautees.

Planting calendar

Direct sow / transplant

4 weeks before your last spring frost.

Fall planting

8 weeks before your first fall frost.

One of the most cold-hardy greens; frost sweetens the flavor dramatically

Spacing & harvest

Plant spacing: 18-24 inches
Row spacing: 24-30 inches
Days to harvest: 55-65 days
Ready when: Leaves are 8-10 inches long; harvest outer leaves first leaving center growth intact

Companion planting

Plant near

Dill — Attracts beneficial wasps that eat cabbage worms
Onion — Deters cabbage moths
Beet — Different root depths allow good intercropping

Keep away from

Strawberry — Inhibits brassica growth

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Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns