Harvest guide

Kale harvest guide: when to pick and how much to expect

Kale is one of the few crops you can still pick in the depths of winter. Picking a few leaves at a time keeps one planting going for months.

Days to harvest: 50–55 days from sowing(Montana State University Extension)
Harvest months: October–April(RHS)
Typical yield: 3.2 kg per 3 m row (7 lb per 10 ft)(Montana State University Extension)
Spacing: 30–60 cm (12–24 in) apart, rows 45 cm (18 in) apart(RHS)
Family: Brassicaceae (cabbage family)
Botanical name: Brassica oleracea (Acephala group)

Kale planting and harvest calendar

Sow March–June. Harvest October–April.(RHS)

Kale season timeline

Sow
Harvest

Months are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate, based on RHS (UK) guidance. Shift them earlier or later to match your own frost dates, or by about six months in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sow
Harvest

When to harvest kale

Harvest single leaves once they are big enough to use. Young leaves are tender enough to eat raw.(University of Minnesota Extension)
Kale keeps growing after the first frosts, and leaves can be picked even after the plant has frozen. Cool weather improves the flavour.(University of Minnesota Extension)

How often to pick

Take two or three of the lower leaves from each plant at a time. For salad leaves, start cutting once plants are 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tall.(RHS)

How many kale to expect

A 3 m (10 ft) row typically gives about 3.2 kg (7 lb).(Montana State University Extension)

Yields vary with variety, weather, soil and care. Treat these as ballpark figures, not targets.

Plan for your family

For 4 people eating kale fresh, plan on about 6–12 m (20–40 ft) of row(University of Missouri Extension). That should give roughly 6–13 kg (14–28 lb)(Montana State University Extension).

To preserve or store some as well, allow 3–4.6 m (10–15 ft) of row per person.(University of Missouri Extension)

See the full planting-per-person guide →

Storing your kale

Refrigerate kale in a perforated plastic bag and use it within two to three days.(University of Maine Cooperative Extension)
Because it stands in the garden so long, most gardeners just pick it as needed. Freeze any surplus.(University of Minnesota Extension)

Track it

Log every kale harvest

Harvest Journal is a private garden journal for your phone. Tap to log each picking of kale by weight or count, and see your season add up, with no account needed.

Prefer paper? Make a free harvest report PDF in your browser, with no account needed.

Kale harvest FAQ

Can you harvest kale after frost?

Yes. University of Minnesota Extension notes that kale keeps producing well after the first fall frosts, and frozen leaves can still be harvested and cooked.