California · zones 7a–10b
When to plant kale in California.
Sow or transplant between Dec 7 to Jan 4 in a typical year, keyed to California's median last frost around Jan 14. A second, fall sowing fits Sep 13 to Oct 29. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Kale dates for a typical California season.
1 · Start indoors
Oct 26 to Nov 23
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Dec 7 to Jan 4
Keyed to the ~Jan 14 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 16" apart.
Fall round
Sep 13 to Oct 29
Counted back from the ~Dec 14 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~2 lb per plant over ~16 weeks.
California spans more than one climate: Zone 10 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7a to 10b. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In California: watch for
The pests that find kale here.
With about 334 frost-free days, kale spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which cabbage worms & loopers can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
Green caterpillars chewing ragged holes; green droppings.
Organic fix: Handpick, cover with netting, spray Bt.
Gray-green clusters tucked into the leaf folds.
Organic fix: Blast with water, then insecticidal soap.
Tiny holes peppering the young leaves.
Organic fix: Row cover from day one; diatomaceous earth.
Black rot
Yellow V-shaped wedges cutting in from the leaf edge, veins blackening inside.
Organic fix: Pull infected plants, water at the base, keep brassicas out of that bed 3 years.
Seedlings wilt, yellow and stall for no reason; white maggots tunnel the roots.
Organic fix: Row cover before the flies are up, when yellow rocket blooms; rotate the bed.
Your season math: California gives kale about 334 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. It's a one-planting crop, so time that single sowing well.
Planting kale in California: questions
When should I plant kale in California?+
In a typical California year, sow kale or set out transplants between Dec 7 to Jan 4, keyed to the state's median last frost around Jan 14. There's also a fall window: Sep 13 to Oct 29. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start kale seeds indoors in California?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Oct 26 to Nov 23 for a typical California season.
What USDA zone is California?+
California spans zones 7a–10b, mostly zone 10. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many kale plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.