Florida · zones 8b–11a
When to plant kale in Florida.
Sow or transplant between Dec 27 to Jan 24 in a typical year, keyed to Florida's median last frost around Feb 3. A second, fall sowing fits Sep 14 to Oct 30. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Kale dates for a typical Florida season.
1 · Start indoors
Nov 15 to Dec 13
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Dec 27 to Jan 24
Keyed to the ~Feb 3 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 16" apart.
Fall round
Sep 14 to Oct 30
Counted back from the ~Dec 15 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~2 lb per plant over ~16 weeks.
Florida spans more than one climate: Zone 9 is the most common zone, but the state runs 8b to 11a. 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 Florida: watch for
The pests that find kale here.
With about 315 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: Florida gives kale about 315 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 Florida: questions
When should I plant kale in Florida?+
In a typical Florida year, sow kale or set out transplants between Dec 27 to Jan 24, keyed to the state's median last frost around Feb 3. There's also a fall window: Sep 14 to Oct 30. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start kale seeds indoors in Florida?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Nov 15 to Dec 13 for a typical Florida season.
What USDA zone is Florida?+
Florida spans zones 8b–11a, mostly zone 9. 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.