North Carolina · zones 7a–8b
When to plant kale in North Carolina.
Sow or transplant between Feb 24 to Mar 24 in a typical year, keyed to North Carolina's median last frost around Apr 3. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 3 to Sep 18. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Kale dates for a typical North Carolina season.
1 · Start indoors
Jan 13 to Feb 10
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Feb 24 to Mar 24
Keyed to the ~Apr 3 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 16" apart.
Fall round
Aug 3 to Sep 18
Counted back from the ~Nov 3 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~2 lb per plant over ~16 weeks.
North Carolina spans more than one climate: Zone 8 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7a to 8b. 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 North Carolina: watch for
The pests that find kale here.
A middle-length season, about 214 frost-free days, means kale overlaps cabbage worms & loopers for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.
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: North Carolina gives kale about 214 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 North Carolina: questions
When should I plant kale in North Carolina?+
In a typical North Carolina year, sow kale or set out transplants between Feb 24 to Mar 24, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 3. There's also a fall window: Aug 3 to Sep 18. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start kale seeds indoors in North Carolina?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Jan 13 to Feb 10 for a typical North Carolina season.
What USDA zone is North Carolina?+
North Carolina spans zones 7a–8b, mostly zone 8. 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.