Kale is one of Britain's most resilient brassicas — sow from March, harvest all winter. Here's everything you need to time it perfectly.
Ready to start growing? Read our full How to Grow Kale UK →
Sowing dates and growing advice verified against RHS guidance by the SoilCommander Growing Team.
Part of the UK Vegetable Planting Calendar — see all sowing dates and monthly guides.
Kale Planting Calendar
| Task | Months |
|---|---|
| Sow indoors | March – June |
| Transplant outdoors | May – July |
| Direct sow outdoors | April – June (baby leaf: to August) |
| Days to germination | 5 – 10 days |
| Transplant to harvest | 8 – 16 weeks |
Regional Timing Adjustments
- South England
- Start sowing in early March; harvests can continue well into April before plants bolt.
- North England
- Delay outdoor sowing by 2 weeks in spring; focus on curled varieties that shed snow.
- Scotland
- Start seeds indoors in March; ensure plants are in final positions by mid-June.
Plan your entire kale season with our UK Vegetable Garden Planner PDF.
Browse all sowing dates in the UK vegetable planting calendar · Explore all UK vegetable growing guides
Plan The Timing Before You Sow
Use the planting window with a planner, seed-starting setup, and the full calendar so dates stay practical for your garden.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.