Oregon · Washington · Idaho
When to plant kale
Plant in the garden: Portland and Seattle Mar 15 – Apr 26; Spokane Apr 15 – May 27; Boise Apr 1 – May 13; Bend May 12 – Jun 23.
Your dates in
Kale is a cabbage-family plant that never forms a head: you eat the leaves, picked a few at a time from the bottom of the stem up, raw in salads, cooked like spinach or baked into chips. Seed racks carry three main looks: tightly curled kale, dark, bumpy lacinato (also called Tuscan or dinosaur kale) and flat, frilly Russian kale, which is the most cold-hardy of the three.
Puts kale on your free plan, with dates for your town and a spot in your beds.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 18 inches apart
- Planting depth
- Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot
- Frost
- Handles light frost
- First harvest
- About 60 days after planting
One of the best crops for Northwest winters; frost sweetens the leaves.
Kale planting dates
| Towns | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the garden | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR, Seattle and Tacoma, WA | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15 – Apr 26 | Aug 6–20 |
| Spokane, WA | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Aug 3–17 |
| Boise and Meridian, ID, Astoria, OR | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 6–20 |
| Bend and Redmond, OR | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 12 – Jun 23 | — |
Dates for six main cities. For any of the other 80 towns, type it in the box at the top of the page or browse all towns.
| Gresham, OR, Oregon City and West Linn, OR, Portland, OR, St. Helens and Scappoose, OR, Wilsonville and Canby, OR | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15 – Apr 26 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro and Beaverton, OR | Feb 5–19 | Mar 19 – Apr 30 | Aug 6–20 |
| Corvallis and Albany, OR, Eugene, OR, Salem, OR | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15 – Apr 26 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottage Grove, OR | Feb 13–27 | Mar 27 – May 8 | Aug 6–20 |
| McMinnville and Newberg, OR | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18 – Apr 29 | Aug 6–20 |
| Ashland and Talent, OR | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Apr 8 – May 20 | Jul 30 – Aug 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants Pass, OR, Medford, OR, Roseburg, OR | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15 – Apr 26 | Aug 6–20 |
| Astoria, OR, Brookings and Gold Beach, OR, Coos Bay and North Bend, OR, Newport and Lincoln City, OR, Tillamook, OR | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|
| Bend and Redmond, OR | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 12 – Jun 23 | — |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burns, OR | Apr 2–16 | May 14 – Jun 25 | — |
| Klamath Falls, OR | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 12 – Jun 23 | Jul 10–24 |
| Lakeview, OR | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 7 – Jun 18 | Jul 9–23 |
| Madras, OR | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| Prineville, OR | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 4 – Jun 15 | Jul 14–28 |
| Baker City, OR | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27 – Jun 8 | Jul 7–21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise and Joseph, OR | Mar 15–29 | Apr 26 – Jun 7 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 |
| Hermiston, OR | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 1–15 |
| Hood River, OR | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 4–18 |
| John Day, OR | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | Jul 10–24 |
| La Grande, OR | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 |
| Ontario, OR | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 5–19 |
| Pendleton, OR, The Dalles, OR | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 6–20 |
| Bremerton and Port Orchard, WA, Everett, WA, Kent, Renton and Auburn, WA, Seattle and Tacoma, WA | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15 – Apr 26 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia, WA | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 5–19 |
| Shelton, WA | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Mar 30 – May 11 | Aug 6–20 |
| Anacortes, WA, Bellingham, WA, Friday Harbor and the San Juans, WA, Mount Vernon and Burlington, WA, Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island, WA | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15 – Apr 26 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|
| Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA, Forks, WA, Long Beach and Ilwaco, WA | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Angeles, WA, Port Townsend, WA | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15 – Apr 26 | Aug 6–20 |
| Sequim, WA | Feb 10–24 | Mar 24 – May 5 | Aug 6–20 |
| Centralia and Chehalis, WA | Feb 11–25 | Mar 25 – May 6 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longview and Kelso, WA, Vancouver, WA | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15 – Apr 26 | Aug 6–20 |
| Chelan, WA, Wenatchee, WA | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leavenworth, WA | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 22 – Aug 5 |
| Omak and Okanogan, WA | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Winthrop and Twisp, WA | Mar 6–20 | Apr 17 – May 29 | Jul 14–28 |
| Ellensburg, WA | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ephrata and Quincy, WA, Walla Walla, WA | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 6–20 |
| Goldendale, WA | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | Jul 17–31 |
| Moses Lake, WA | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Jul 30 – Aug 13 |
| Sunnyside, Grandview and Prosser, WA | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 3 – May 15 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 2–16 |
| Yakima, WA | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 10 – May 22 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| Colville, WA, Pullman, WA | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Aug 3–17 |
| Bonners Ferry, ID | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, ID | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Aug 6–20 |
| Sandpoint, ID | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 20 – Aug 3 |
| Lewiston, ID | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow, ID | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Boise and Meridian, ID | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 6–20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmett, ID | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 2 – May 14 | Aug 6–20 |
| McCall, ID | Apr 13–27 | May 25 – Jul 6 | — |
| Nampa and Caldwell, ID | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 4–18 |
| Burley and Rupert, ID, Twin Falls, ID | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 |
| Pocatello, ID | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Aug 2–16 |
| Rexburg, ID | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 16–30 |
| Salmon, ID | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19 – May 31 | Jul 16–30 |
Kale year at a glance
| Task | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start indoors | Feb | |||||||||||
| Plant | Mar | Apr | Aug | |||||||||
| Harvest | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Around Portland. Colder towns, especially east of the Cascades, run a few weeks later; the table above has your town's planting dates.
How to grow kale
- Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
- Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
- Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 18 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
- Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
- Plant again on your city's dates for a fall harvest.
- Harvest: Pick the lower leaves and let the top keep growing. Plants often produce from fall through spring west of the Cascades.
Growing kale in your part of the Northwest
The same plant behaves differently on the wet west side, the foggy coast and the dry, colder east side.
West-side valleys
Willamette Valley, Puget Sound, southern Oregon
Kale is a year-round crop here. Plants set out in summer keep producing through most winters, and frost makes the leaves sweeter. Aphids and cabbage worms are the usual pests.
Coast
Oregon and Washington coast
Kale thrives in the cool, moist climate and can be picked almost all year.
East of the Cascades
Columbia Basin, Yakima, Boise, Spokane, north Idaho
Summer heat makes leaves tough and brings aphids, so focus on spring and fall crops. In colder winters, a row cover or low tunnel keeps plants going longer.
High desert and mountain towns
Central Oregon, high eastern Oregon valleys, McCall, Salmon
Kale is one of the hardiest crops here and is fine through summer thanks to cool nights. Plants survive hard frosts, though a deep cold snap ends the season.
More kale varieties
More widely sold picks that do well somewhere in the Northwest. The tag says which part of the Northwest suits each one best.
Lacinato
Also called dinosaur or Tuscan kale, with long, bumpy, dark leaves and a rich flavor. It is tender for kale and very good in soups and salads.
Both sides
Red Russian
Tender, oak-shaped gray-green leaves with purple stems and veins. Very cold hardy, it often produces through a mild Northwest winter and is great as baby greens.
Coast and west side
Winterbor
Tall plants with thick, ruffled blue-green leaves. It is one of the hardiest curly kales and keeps producing through fall and much of winter.
Both sides
Dwarf Blue Curled Vates
Low, compact plants with finely curled blue-green leaves. Hardy and easy to fit into small beds, it stays productive well after frost.
Both sides
Redbor
Deeply curled leaves that turn deep red-purple, especially after cold weather. Tasty and very ornamental, it works in vegetable beds and fall containers.
Both sides
How much to grow
How many to plant
For a family of four, 4 to 6 plants keep you in kale for months. Plant a few more in late summer for winter picking.
What to expect
Each plant gives a handful of leaves a week for many months.
Storing the harvest
Leaves keep a week or more in a bag in the fridge. Blanch and freeze extras.
What to plant after kale
Around Portland, the kale harvest wraps up around April. These crops can still go into the same bed, and they come from a different plant family, which helps with rotation.
- Peas Mar 1 – Apr 12
- Lettuce Mar 1 – Apr 26
- Cilantro Mar 1 – Apr 19
- Carrots Mar 15 – May 10
- Beets Mar 15 – May 10
- Swiss chard Mar 15 – May 10
- Potatoes Mar 15 – Apr 26
- Parsley Mar 15 – May 3
Peas 
Lettuce 
Cilantro 
Carrots 
Beets 
Swiss chard 
Potatoes 
Parsley Portland dates. Pick your town at the top of the page for yours.
Key numbers
- 6.0–7.5Soil pH
- Low teens °FHardy to
- Makes leaves sweeterFrost
- Lime to pH 7.2Clubroot fix
- Top 5–6 leavesLeave on plant
- 1–2 weeks coldKeeps
Top care tip: Harvest the lower leaves and always leave the top five or six so the plant keeps growing.
The plant science
The plant biology behind the advice above, in plain language.
Why frost makes kale sweeter
As temperatures drop, kale converts some of its starch into sugars, which act as a natural antifreeze in its cells. The result is noticeably sweeter, milder leaves after a few frosts. Hardy varieties like Winterbor and Red Russian survive into the low teens or below, and west of the Cascades kale often produces all winter.
Soil and clubroot
Kale grows best in fertile soil with a pH of about 6.0 to 7.5. In the Northwest, the main soil threat is clubroot, a soilborne disease of the whole cabbage family that causes swollen, distorted roots and wilting plants. It thrives in acidic, wet soil, and its spores survive in the ground for many years.
If clubroot has shown up before, raise the pH to about 7.2 with lime at least a month before planting, improve drainage, and don't plant any cabbage-family crops in that spot for several years. Start with clean transplants and don't move soil from infected beds.
Feeding and water
Kale is a leaf crop, so it responds well to nitrogen. Mix compost and a balanced fertilizer into the bed, then side-dress with a little more nitrogen a month or so after planting. Keep the soil evenly moist; drought makes leaves tough and strong-flavored.
Pests
Cabbage aphids form gray, waxy colonies, often under leaves and in the growing tip. Blast them off with water, remove badly infested leaves, and let ladybugs and parasitic wasps do the rest. The green caterpillars are imported cabbageworms, the larvae of the white butterflies seen over gardens in summer. Row cover from planting day keeps the butterflies from laying eggs; Bt, a bacterial spray that affects only caterpillars, controls them if they're already there.
Flowering in spring
Kale is a biennial. After a winter of cold, it flowers the next spring. Before the flowers open, the tender shoots (often sold as kale raab) are sweet and good to eat. Once flowers open, pull the plant and compost it.
Harvest and storage
Pick the lowest, oldest leaves first and leave at least five or six leaves on top so the plant keeps growing. Kale stores best near freezing with high humidity, so keep it bagged in the fridge, where it lasts one to two weeks.
Good neighbors and crop rotation
Good neighbors
- Lettuce and spinach. Fill the space under young kale before it grows large.
- Onions and garlic. Narrow crops that tuck in around the big leaves.
Keep apart
- Other cabbage-family crops in the same bed every year. Shared pests and clubroot build up; rotate.
Cabbage family: Grow cabbage-family crops in a different bed each year and come back to the same spot only every three or four years. Clubroot, which swells and knots the roots, lives in the soil for many years once it arrives, and root maggot pupae wait in last year's bed.
Pests and problems
What most often goes wrong with kale in Northwest gardens, how to spot it and what to do.
Cabbage worms
Signs: Green caterpillars and ragged holes; white moths fluttering over the bed.
What to do: Insect netting from planting day, and pick off caterpillars.
Gray aphids
Signs: Waxy gray clusters under leaves and in the growing tip, worst in late summer.
What to do: Spray off with water every few days and remove badly infested leaves.
Cabbage root maggots
Signs: Young transplants wilt and stall in spring.
What to do: Row cover sealed at the edges, or a collar around each stem.
Common questions about growing kale
When should I plant kale in Oregon, Washington and Idaho?
Plant in the garden: Mar 15 – Apr 26 in Portland and Seattle, Apr 15 – May 27 in Spokane, Apr 1 – May 13 in Boise and May 12 – Jun 23 in Bend. Pick your town at the top of the page for your own dates.
Does frost make kale sweeter?
Yes. In cold weather kale turns some of its starches into sugars, which protect its cells from freezing. Leaves picked after a few frosts taste noticeably sweeter and milder.
Why is my kale flowering in spring?
Kale is a biennial, so after a winter of cold it goes to flower the next spring. Eat the tender flower shoots before they open, then pull the plant and start new kale for the year.
How do I get rid of aphids on kale?
Spray them off with a strong stream of water, remove badly infested leaves, and leave the ladybugs and tiny parasitic wasps that feed on them. Plants that are watered and fed well tolerate aphids better.
See what else to plant in February, March, April or August.
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
Bok choy
Kohlrabi
Collards
Mustard greens