West Virginia · zones 6a–7a
When to plant kale in West Virginia.
Sow or transplant between Mar 21 to Apr 18 in a typical year, keyed to West Virginia's median last frost around Apr 28. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 17 to Sep 1. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Kale dates for a typical West Virginia season.
1 · Start indoors
Feb 7 to Mar 7
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Mar 21 to Apr 18
Keyed to the ~Apr 28 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 16" apart.
Fall round
Jul 17 to Sep 1
Counted back from the ~Oct 17 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~2 lb per plant over ~16 weeks.
West Virginia spans more than one climate: Zone 6 is the most common zone, but the state runs 6a to 7a. 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 West Virginia: watch for
The pests that find kale here.
A middle-length season, about 172 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: West Virginia gives kale about 172 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 West Virginia: questions
When should I plant kale in West Virginia?+
In a typical West Virginia year, sow kale or set out transplants between Mar 21 to Apr 18, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 28. There's also a fall window: Jul 17 to Sep 1. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start kale seeds indoors in West Virginia?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Feb 7 to Mar 7 for a typical West Virginia season.
What USDA zone is West Virginia?+
West Virginia spans zones 6a–7a, mostly zone 6. 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.