When to Plant Kale in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow August to April. 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 Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Kale

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 Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D T - - - S/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Kale sowing time in Melbourne?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Kale included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 5–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Kale in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Year-round planting possible. Autumn planting (February-April) for winter-spring harvest is optimal. Spring planting for summer-autumn harvest.

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

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Kale

Recommended Varieties

  • Nero di Toscana
  • Winterbor (extremely cold-hardy curly)
  • Red Russian
  • Curly Blue Scotch
  • Dwarf Green Curled

Key Challenges

  • Caterpillars in warmer months
  • Very slow growth in deep winter

Pro Tips

  • Melbourne's cool climate is ideal for kale. It can produce year-round
  • Frost sweetens kale flavour dramatically; don't harvest before a frost if you can wait
  • Winterbor is essentially indestructible in Melbourne conditions

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 Cool Temperate Zones

Aphids and Caterpillars, risk: MODERATE (score: 51/100)

Organic prevention: Net from planting. Companion plant with strong herbs. Regular inspection.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What kale costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your kale: Cabbage White Butterfly.

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Common 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:

Does kale grow all year round in Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Apr, 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.