Kale planting calendar for USDA Zone 8b

Charleston SC, Savannah, Mobile, Austin, Jacksonville. Average last spring frost March 15, first fall frost November 15 — a 245-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent

Kale is well suited to Zone 8b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

February 1 – February 15

Direct-seed or transplant outdoors

February 8 – March 1

Expected first harvest

April 11 – May 9

Fall planting window

August 30 – September 20

Fall harvest window

October 31 – November 28

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 8b

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 8b

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.

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