Planting Guides

When to Plant Kale in Salt Lake City: Complete Guide + Best Varieties for Zone 7a

Salt Lake City, Utah

USDA Zone 7a

Last Frost: Apr 25

Last updated: October 30, 2025

Learn when to plant kale in Salt Lake City with specific dates for Zone 7a. Compare 5 varieties, get a complete timeline, and discover which kale grow best in Utah.

YYuki Tanaka

October 30, 2025

Kale plants growing in Salt Lake City garden with mountain backdrop showing Zone 7a growing conditions — — Image © PlantReference.org 2026

TL;DR

Plant kale in Salt Lake City August 1-15 for fall harvest or March 15-30 for spring crops. Zone 7a's cool mountain climate is excellent for kale, with harvest possible through November. Fall-planted kale tastes sweeter after frost exposure and grows better than spring crops in Utah's high altitude conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to plant kale in Salt Lake City?

August 1-15 for fall harvest is the optimal planting window in Salt Lake City. This timing allows plants to mature just as cool weather arrives in October, resulting in sweeter, more tender leaves. Spring planting (March 15-30) works but produces inferior flavor due to rapid summer heat buildup in Utah's high desert climate.

Can kale survive Salt Lake City winters?

Yes, with protection. Brassica oleracea 'Winterbor' and Brassica oleracea 'Lacinato' survive most Salt Lake City winters with row covers or cold frames. These varieties tolerate temperatures down to 10°F (-12°C). Snow coverage actually helps insulate plants, and I've harvested fresh kale in January after weeks under snow.

Why does my kale taste bitter in Salt Lake City?

Heat and stress cause bitterness in kale. Spring-planted kale turns bitter when Utah's summer heat arrives in late June. Frost improves flavor dramatically—the same plant that tastes bitter in August becomes sweet and tender after October frosts. This happens because cold temperatures trigger the plant to convert starches into sugars as a survival mechanism.

What kale varieties work best in Utah's high altitude climate?

Brassica oleracea 'Lacinato' and Brassica oleracea 'Vates' perform exceptionally well in Salt Lake City's Zone 7a conditions. Lacinato handles the intense mountain sunlight without burning, while Vates stays compact against strong canyon winds. Brassica oleracea 'Red Russian' works well for quick spring crops before summer heat arrives.

How do I prevent cabbage worms on kale in Salt Lake City?

Row covers are essential from May through September when cabbage white butterflies are active. Install immediately after planting and remove only for harvest. For uncovered plants, spray organic BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) weekly. Hand-picking green caterpillars works for small plantings, but prevention through row covers is most effective in Utah's conditions.

Can I grow kale year-round in Salt Lake City?

Not quite year-round, but close. Plant in August for October-December harvest, then again in March for May-July harvest. With season extension techniques like cold frames, you can harvest from October through March in most years. Summer growing isn't practical due to bolting in Utah's heat, but two long seasons provide nearly continuous production.

How much water does kale need in Utah's dry climate?

Kale needs 1 inch of water per week including rainfall. Salt Lake City's 16 inches annual precipitation means regular irrigation is essential. Deep, infrequent watering works better than daily light watering in Utah's clay soils. Drip irrigation is ideal since it conserves water and delivers consistent moisture without wasting water to evaporation in the dry air.

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Tagged with

#Salt Lake City gardening #Utah vegetable growing #Zone 7a planting #kale varieties #fall planting #frost-hardy vegetables #mountain gardening #high altitude growing #winter harvest #cool season crops

Written By

Yuki Tanaka

Yuki is a landscape designer in Salt Lake City who specializes in water-wise gardens that work with Utah's dry climate and alkaline soil. She moved to Utah from Portland, Oregon—a rude awakening for someone used to gardening in rich, acidic soil with reliable rainfall. That transition taught her to rethink everything she knew about plant selection and garden design. Yuki now focuses on intermountain-adapted plantings that combine ornamental grasses, drought-tolerant perennials, and carefully chosen shrubs for year-round interest. She works with homeowners looking to reduce water use without giving up on having an attractive garden. Yuki writes with the clarity of someone who had to learn a new climate from scratch.