Tennessee · zones 7a–8a
When to plant kale in Tennessee.
Sow or transplant between Mar 1 to Mar 29 in a typical year, keyed to Tennessee's median last frost around Apr 8. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 25 to Sep 9. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Kale dates for a typical Tennessee season.
1 · Start indoors
Jan 18 to Feb 15
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Mar 1 to Mar 29
Keyed to the ~Apr 8 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 16" apart.
Fall round
Jul 25 to Sep 9
Counted back from the ~Oct 25 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~2 lb per plant over ~16 weeks.
Tennessee spans more than one climate: Zone 7 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7a to 8a. 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 Tennessee: watch for
The pests that find kale here.
A middle-length season, about 200 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: Tennessee gives kale about 200 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 Tennessee: questions
When should I plant kale in Tennessee?+
In a typical Tennessee year, sow kale or set out transplants between Mar 1 to Mar 29, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 8. There's also a fall window: Jul 25 to Sep 9. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start kale seeds indoors in Tennessee?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Jan 18 to Feb 15 for a typical Tennessee season.
What USDA zone is Tennessee?+
Tennessee spans zones 7a–8a, mostly zone 7. 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.