Kale planting calendar for USDA Zone 6b

Boone NC, northern VA, central KY, southern IN. Average last spring frost April 24, first fall frost October 8 — a 167-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent

Kale is well suited to Zone 6b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

March 13 – March 27

Direct-seed or transplant outdoors

March 20 – April 10

Expected first harvest

May 21 – June 18

Fall planting window

July 23 – August 13

Fall harvest window

September 23 – October 21

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing: 12″
Row spacing: 24″
Seed depth: 0.5″
Soil temperature: 55–75°F
Frost tolerance: hardy
Days to harvest: 55 days

Grower notes for Zone 6b

Harvest outer leaves and leave the growing tip — a single plant can produce for 3+ months.

Plant near: beets, onions, herbs

Keep away from: tomatoes

Other brassicas for Zone 6b

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.

Join the pilot Browse resources