Zone 11 · Leafy Greens Growing Guide

When to Plant Kale
in Zone 11

Cold-hardy superfood that actually tastes better after frost. One of the most productive crops per square foot. Can harvest outer leaves all season.

Plant outdoors
Oct – Jan
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~none
Days to harvest
50–65 days
Difficulty
Easy
Wrong season — Zone 11
Harvest window: Nov – Mar

Planting Calendar

In Zone 11, Kale should be planted outdoors Oct – Jan, after the average last frost date of approximately none.

Brief cool season only. Limited production window.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade · 4–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
12–18 inches
Soil
Fertile, well-draining
Days to maturity
50–65 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.5
plant tip · Zone 11

Brief cool season only. Limited production window.

Feeding Schedule

How often
monthly
Feed type
high nitrogen
Key timing
throughout growing season

Leafy crop that loves nitrogen. Feed monthly with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Reduce feeding in the final 4 weeks before harvest.

Succession Planting

Sow every 4 weeks

Sow every 4 weeks from spring through midsummer. Kale improves after frost — a late summer sowing gives your best autumn and winter harvests.

Companion Planting for Kale

What you plant next to kale makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Beets
  • Celery
  • Herbs
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
Keep away from
  • Beans
  • Strawberries
  • Tomatoes

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Common questions

In Zone 11, kale is a fall-planted crop. Plant outdoors Oct – Jan once temperatures cool in autumn. It overwinters and is ready to harvest around Nov – Mar. No last frost consideration — plant before the ground freezes.
Zone 11 has an average last spring frost of approximately none and a first fall frost around none. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for kale include Beets, Celery, Herbs, Onions, Potatoes. Avoid planting near Beans, Strawberries, Tomatoes, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Kale typically takes 50–65 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 11. Expected harvest window: Nov – Mar.

Recipes using this crop

Great ways to use your harvest — see all recipes

Sides & Snacks

Crispy Kale Chips

25 min · easy

Sides & Snacks

Massaged Kale Salad

15 min · easy

Free app · iOS February 2028

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Kale in other zones
Crop Guides