When Is the Last Frost in Kentucky?
The average last spring frost in Kentucky falls between April 3 and April 24 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of April 16. At the average date a later frost is still a coin flip, so tender plants wait for the safer 90% date.
| City | Last frost | 90% safe after | First frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | Apr 3 | Apr 19 | Nov 3 | 214 days |
| Lexington | Apr 13 | May 1 | Oct 28 | 196 days |
| Bowling Green | Apr 5 | Apr 21 | Oct 31 | 208 days |
| Owensboro | Apr 2 | Apr 20 | Nov 1 | 211 days |
| Covington | Apr 16 | May 3 | Oct 25 | 190 days |
| Georgetown | Apr 13 | May 1 | Oct 28 | 196 days |
| Richmond | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | 190 days |
| Elizabethtown | Apr 16 | May 4 | Oct 25 | 191 days |
| Florence | Apr 18 | May 7 | Oct 25 | 188 days |
| Nicholasville | Apr 7 | Apr 24 | Nov 1 | 206 days |
| Hopkinsville | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | Nov 2 | 211 days |
| Frankfort | Apr 15 | May 5 | Oct 24 | 192 days |
| Henderson | Apr 9 | Apr 24 | Oct 26 | 198 days |
| Paducah | Apr 5 | Apr 21 | Oct 28 | 206 days |
| Ashland | Apr 22 | May 11 | Oct 23 | 181 days |
| Madisonville | Apr 2 | Apr 18 | Nov 1 | 212 days |
| Murray | Apr 5 | Apr 20 | Nov 1 | 209 days |
| Shelbyville | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 10 | 161 days |
Last and first frost: 50% (median) dates of the last spring and first fall 32 °F night. 90% safe after: only a 10% chance of a later spring frost. First frost dates in January fall in the following winter. Each city uses the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code closest to its center.
Across all 97 Kentucky weather stations with frost records, median last frost dates run from March 27 at Eddyville 5 S, KY to May 2 at Grayson 3 SW, KY. Elevation, valleys that collect cold air and distance from large water bodies explain most of the spread, so a garden a few miles from a listed city can differ by a week or more. The ZIP code lookup above uses the same NOAA data as the frost date calculator for every US ZIP code.
When Is the First Frost in Kentucky?
The average first fall frost in Kentucky arrives between October 18 and November 2 for most ZIP codes, with a median of October 25. Tomatoes, peppers, basil and squash are damaged at 32 °F, so harvest or cover them before then.
Fall frost can come early: Louisville has a 10% chance of frost before October 21, Lexington has a 10% chance of frost before October 16 and Bowling Green has a 10% chance of frost before October 20. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and cabbage tolerate light frosts and keep producing after the first frost date.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Kentucky?
Transplant tomatoes in Kentucky 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 10 – Apr 17 in Louisville, Apr 20 – Apr 27 in Lexington and Apr 12 – Apr 19 in Bowling Green. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
| City | Start seeds indoors | Transplant outdoors | Lowest-risk transplant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 17 | after Apr 19 |
| Lexington | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | after May 1 |
| Bowling Green | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 19 | after Apr 21 |
| Owensboro | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | after Apr 20 |
| Covington | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | after May 3 |
| Georgetown | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | after May 1 |
| Richmond | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | after Apr 30 |
| Elizabethtown | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | after May 4 |
| Florence | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 25 – May 2 | after May 7 |
| Nicholasville | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | after Apr 24 |
| Hopkinsville | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | after Apr 19 |
| Frankfort | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | after May 5 |
| Henderson | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | after Apr 24 |
| Paducah | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 19 | after Apr 21 |
| Ashland | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Apr 29 – May 6 | after May 11 |
| Madisonville | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | after Apr 18 |
| Murray | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 19 | after Apr 20 |
| Shelbyville | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 8 – May 15 | after May 15 |
Indoors: 6–8 weeks before the average last frost. Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after it. Lowest-risk: after the date with only a 10% chance of a later frost. Rules of thumb; check the 10-day forecast and wait for soil near 60 °F.
Tomatoes stall below about 50 °F at night and are killed by frost, so a week or two of waiting after the average date costs little. The tomato plant care guide covers light, watering and feeding once plants are in the ground.
What Can You Plant in Louisville and When?
Louisville's average last frost of April 3 anchors its spring planting calendar: peas and spinach go in from February 20, broccoli and lettuce transplants from March 6, and tomatoes, peppers and squash after April 10.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | — | Feb 20 – Mar 6direct sow, 4–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Spinach | — | Feb 20 – Mar 13direct sow, 3–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Radishes | — | Feb 27 – Mar 13direct sow, 3–5 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Onions (sets) | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Broccoli & cabbage | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Mar 6 – Mar 20transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Lettuce | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Mar 6 – Mar 20transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Beets | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20direct sow, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Carrots | — | Mar 13 – Mar 20direct sow, 2–3 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Tomatoes | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 17transplant, 1–2 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Basil | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Peppers | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – Apr 24transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Eggplant | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – Apr 24transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Green beans | — | Apr 10 – Apr 24direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 10 – Apr 24direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Cucumbers | Mar 6 – Mar 13 | Apr 10 – Apr 24transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Squash & zucchini | Mar 6 – Mar 13 | Apr 10 – Apr 24transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Watermelon | Mar 6 – Mar 13 | Apr 17 – Apr 24transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
Dates for Louisville (last frost Apr 3, NOAA station Louisville Bowman Fld, KY, 2 miles from ZIP 40218). General rules of thumb; wait for soil near 50 °F for most seeds and 60 °F for beans, corn and squash.
How Long Is the Growing Season in Kentucky?
The frost-free growing season in Kentucky lasts about 176 to 211 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 191 days. Among the listed cities, Shelbyville has the shortest season at 161 days and Louisville the longest at 214.
Season length decides which varieties ripen: compare it with the “days to maturity” on seed packets, counted from transplanting for tomatoes and peppers. NOAA stations in Kentucky range from 160 days at Grayson 3 SW, KY to 225 days at Eddyville 5 S, KY. Planning beds before the season starts helps in short seasons — a plant spacing calculator for vegetable beds shows how many transplants fit.
What Hardiness Zones Are in Kentucky?
Kentucky spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7b, with zone 7a the most common. Zones describe winter cold and decide which perennials survive, while frost dates set when to plant annual vegetables and flowers.
The Kentucky planting zone map with the zone of each city shows how the zones are spread across the state and which plants are hardy in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the last frost in Kentucky?
- The average last spring frost in Kentucky falls between April 3 and April 24 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of April 16. Among major cities it ranges from April 2 in Owensboro to May 1 in Shelbyville.
- When is the last frost in Louisville, Kentucky?
- Louisville's average last spring frost is April 3, and by April 19 the chance of a later frost drops to 10%. Its first fall frost averages November 3, giving a 214-day growing season (NOAA station Louisville Bowman Fld, KY).
- When should you plant tomatoes in Kentucky?
- Transplant tomatoes in Kentucky 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 10 – Apr 17 in Louisville, Apr 20 – Apr 27 in Lexington and Apr 12 – Apr 19 in Bowling Green. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- When is the first frost in Kentucky?
- The average first fall frost in Kentucky arrives between October 18 and November 2 for most ZIP codes, with a median of October 25. Harvest tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers and basil before then or cover them on cold nights.
- How long is the growing season in Kentucky?
- The frost-free growing season in Kentucky lasts about 176 to 211 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 191 days, from 161 days in Shelbyville to 214 days in Louisville.
Frost data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (32 °F freeze dates by probability). ZIP code and city locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. Planting windows are general rules of thumb. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.