When to Plant Kale in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow April to July. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is April.

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 Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne 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 Tropical

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 21.4°C (optimal range: 5–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

How to Grow Kale in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

March-July (dry season). Marginal crop for tropics. Red Russian handles heat better than curly types.

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

Tropical Growing Tips for Kale

Recommended Varieties

  • Red Russian (most heat tolerant)
  • Siberian Kale

Key Challenges

  • Heat stress causes tough, bitter leaves
  • Pest pressure extreme
  • Short productive life compared to cool climates

Pro Tips

  • Red Russian is your best bet for tropical kale. It tolerates heat better than curly or Tuscan types
  • Provide afternoon shade (30% shade cloth)
  • Harvest young, small leaves for best texture and flavour

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.

Where to next

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

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

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 Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Jul. 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.