leafy · transplant · beginner friendly
Kale: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating kale a few times a week needs about 12 plants in ~24 sq ft, worth about $96 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 | ~6 sq ft | ~4 | ~$24 |
| 2 people | 6 | ~12 sq ft | ~8 | ~$48 |
| 4 people | 12 | ~24 sq ft | ~15 | ~$96 |
| 6 people | 18 | ~36 sq ft | ~22 | ~$144 |
Spacing
16" in row · 18" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
45 from transplant (60 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 7 – May 5 | Jun 15 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 2 – Apr 30 | Jun 25 – Aug 10 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Jul 5 – Aug 20 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 13 – Apr 10 | Jul 15 – Aug 30 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 26 – Mar 26 | Jul 25 – Sep 9 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Aug 15 – Sep 30 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 13 – Feb 10 | Sep 4 – Oct 20 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 24 – Jan 21 | Sep 14 – Oct 30 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Take lower leaves at hand size, leaving the top rosette growing. Sweetest after a light frost.
Don't wait: Old yellowing bottom leaves are for the compost, not the kitchen.
Yield
About 2 lbs per plant over ~16 productive weeks (~2 lb).
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with beet, onion, garlic, carrot. Keep away from tomato, fennel, strawberry. Which of these hold up, and what not to plant after
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
35 kcal · 4.1 g fiber · 93.4 mg vitamin C · 348 mg potassium
When to plant kale in your state
Pick your state for exact sow windows.
Each page keys kaleto that state's typical frost dates, with spring and fall windows and the indoor-start date where it helps.
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Kale planting questions
How many kale plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 3 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 12 plants, which takes around 24 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does kale need?+
Space plants 16" apart in the row with 18" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant kale?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing kale worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~2 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $96 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.