When to Plant Kale in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Sow August to March. Right now in September you can sow.
Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Kale guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Kale is the toughest and most productive leafy green brassica, available in curly, flat (Tuscan/cavolo nero), and red Russian forms. It tolerates frost (which sweetens its flavour), handles some heat, and produces for 6-12 months with regular harvesting. A nutritional powerhouse and genuinely easy to grow compared to heading brassicas.
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/T/D | S/T/D | T | - | - | - | - | S | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 11.2°C (optimal range: 5–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Kale in Cold / Highland Australia
When to Plant
September-March. Frost hardy once established. Plants survive highland winters.
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost and aged manure. Tolerates a wider range of soils than heading brassicas.
- pH Range
- 5.5-6.8
- Sunlight
- Full sun in cool climates. Part shade (afternoon) in subtropical and warmer zones.
- Spacing
- 50cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Deep watering 2-3 times per week. Consistent moisture produces tender leaves. Tolerates some drought but leaves toughen. Avoid overhead watering.
Companion plants: Onion, Garlic, Celery, Beetroot, Dill, Chamomile
Avoid planting near: Strawberry, Tomato, Other brassicas in immediate succession
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Kale
Recommended Varieties
- Winterbor
- Nero di Toscana
- Curly Blue Scotch
- Red Russian
Key Challenges
- Very slow growth in winter
- Short establishment window
- May need frost cloth for young transplants
Pro Tips
- Kale is one of the best leafy greens for cold highlands. Genuinely frost-proof once established
- Flavour peaks after hard frosts; the cold converts starches to sugars
- Mulch heavily around base for root protection in severe cold
Harvesting Kale
When ready: Leaves are large enough to eat (15-20cm long for baby kale, 30cm+ for mature leaves). Dark green with firm texture. Lower leaves harvested first.
How to harvest: Snap or cut lower/outer leaves at the stem. Leave the growing tip and upper leaves to continue producing. Never harvest more than 1/3 of the plant at once. Twist and pull downward for clean removal.
Common Kale Pests in Cold / Highland Zones
Organic prevention: Net from planting. Companion plant with strong herbs. Regular inspection.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon Questions About Kale
When do you plant kale in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Jul
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Jul
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
Does kale grow all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.