Rainline Garden

When to plant kale in Olympia, WA

Start kale from seed indoors Feb 18 – Mar 4, then plant the young plants in the garden in Olympia Apr 1 – May 13. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 5–19.

Easy Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Olympia's typical last spring frost is April 29. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

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 Feb 18 – Mar 4 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 1 – May 13, 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 Aug 5–19 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 Olympia, WA?

Typically April 29. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Olympia Airport.

Is it too late to plant kale in Olympia?

The spring planting window runs through May 13. If you miss it, plant again for fall from August 5 to August 19.

When should I start kale from seed indoors in Olympia?

February 18 to March 4, which is 6 to 4 weeks before the April 1 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Olympia around the same time

Planting dates for kale in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Olympia · Kale in every city