Rainline Garden

When to plant kale in Ellensburg, WA

Start kale from seed indoors Mar 4–18, then plant the young plants in the garden in Ellensburg Apr 15 – May 27. For a fall harvest, plant again Jul 29 – Aug 12.

Easy Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Ellensburg's typical last spring frost is April 28. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Inland Northwest, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 15.

Inland Northwest. Higher, colder interior valleys. Cold springs and an earlier fall mean a shorter season; quick-maturing varieties pay off.

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

Step by step

  1. Start seeds indoors Mar 4–18 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.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden Apr 15 – May 27, 18 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Plant again Jul 29 – Aug 12 for a fall harvest.
  6. Harvest: Pick the lower leaves and let the top keep growing. Plants often produce from fall through spring west of the Cascades.

Varieties that do well here

  • Lacinato
  • Red Russian
  • Winterbor

Watch out for

Cabbage worms and aphids. Row cover keeps the white cabbage moths from laying eggs.

One of the best crops for Northwest winters; frost sweetens the leaves.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Ellensburg, WA?

Typically April 28. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 12. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Ellensburg Bowers Field.

Is it too late to plant kale in Ellensburg?

The spring planting window runs through May 27. If you miss it, plant again for fall from July 29 to August 12.

When should I start kale from seed indoors in Ellensburg?

March 4 to March 18, which is 6 to 4 weeks before the April 15 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Ellensburg around the same time

Planting dates for kale in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Ellensburg · Kale in every city