When to Plant Kale in Colorado Springs, Colorado (80997)

Location

Colorado Springs, Colorado

ZIP Code

80997

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Saturday, April 25, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Direct Sow Outdoors

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Based on last frost Saturday, April 25, 2026 · Zone 5b

Pro tip: Sow Kale directly outdoors 6 weeks before your last frost date.

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Brassica oleracea

Days to Maturity 55 days

Mature Height 18-24"

Spread 18"

Type Leaf

Fruit Size N/A

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun to Partial Shade

💧

Water

Regular (1-1.5 inches/week)

↔️

Spacing

18" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.5" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 5-10 days

Ready to Plant Kale in Colorado Springs?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Saturday, March 14, 2026.

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🤝 Good Companions

BeetCeleryCucumberDillOnion

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

StrawberryTomato

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Kale

See which plants help Kale thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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Common Kale Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Curly Scarlet

curly

Frilly, blue-green leaves with a slightly bitter, peppery flavor; very cold-hardy.

Lacinato (Tuscan Kale)

lacinato

Long, dark blue-green leaves with a mild, earthy flavor; preferred in Italian cooking.

Red Russian

russian

Flat, lobed grey-green leaves with purple stems; the most tender and sweet eating kale.

Winterbor

curly

Very cold-hardy curly kale that sweetens after frost; productive through winter in mild zones.

Rainbow Lacinato

lacinato

Colorful kale with streaks of purple, pink, and green; nutritious and ornamental.

Common Kale Problems

What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.

🐛

Pests

Cabbage Worm (Imported Cabbageworm)

Velvety green caterpillar that chews large holes in leaves; white butterflies laying eggs are the tell.

Fix:

Use row covers; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) when caterpillars are small.

Cabbage Looper

Light green caterpillar that loops when walking; similar damage to imported cabbageworm.

Fix:

Bt spray; row covers; handpick; attract parasitic wasps with flowering herbs.

Aphids (Cabbage Aphid)

Gray-green waxy aphids form dense colonies on leaf undersides; plants become sticky and sooty.

Fix:

Strong water blast; neem oil; the yellow parasitic wasps that appear in colonies are doing your work — leave them.

Flea Beetle

Tiny black beetles create dozens of small holes in leaves; seedlings can be devastated.

Fix:

Use row covers on transplants; apply kaolin clay or diatomaceous earth around plants.

🍂

Diseases

Black Rot

Bacterial disease causing V-shaped yellow lesions from leaf edges with black veins inside.

Fix:

Use certified disease-free seed; avoid overhead irrigation; destroy infected plants.

Downy Mildew

Yellow patches on upper leaf with gray-purple spores beneath; thrives in cool, wet weather.

Fix:

Improve airflow; avoid wetting foliage; apply copper fungicide preventively.

💡

Common Mistakes

Harvesting outer leaves too soon

Removing too many outer leaves stunts plant growth.

Fix:

Wait until leaves are palm-sized before harvesting; always leave at least 4–5 inner leaves.

Skipping fall planting

Kale hit by frost sweetens dramatically — many gardeners only grow spring kale and miss the best flavor.

Fix:

Plant a fall crop 6–8 weeks before first fall frost; harvest into winter in Zones 7+.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🔴 Difficult

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Harvest seed pods just as they turn yellow-tan — pods shatter and drop seeds when fully ripe.

Processing

Thresh dried pods, winnow seeds from pod fragments.

Seed Viability

Up to 5 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

B. oleracea — crosses with broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and collards. Isolate by 1000 feet.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 14 plants of Kale. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Kale in Colorado Springs, Colorado? +

In Colorado Springs (Zone 5b), direct sow Kale outdoors around Saturday, March 14, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Colorado Springs, Colorado? +

The average last spring frost date for Colorado Springs, Colorado (ZIP 80997) is around Saturday, April 25, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 5b.

How long does Kale take to grow? +

Kale typically matures in about 55 days from direct sowing. In Colorado Springs, that means you can expect harvest around Saturday, March 14, 2026 plus 55 days.

Should I start Kale indoors or direct sow in Colorado? +

Kale does best when direct sown outdoors. In Colorado Springs, sow directly around Saturday, March 14, 2026.

📚 More Kale Planting Guides

🗺️

Kale in Colorado

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 5b Kale Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Colorado Springs

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Growing Kale in Zone 5b

Kale (Brassica oleracea) is a popular garden vegetable. In Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b, you should direct sow seeds around Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Saturday, April 25, 2026. Kale grows well when direct sown, as it doesn't transplant well or germinates quickly outdoors.