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Frost Dates and Planting Windows in Kentucky

The 32°F frost dates at the 97 weather stations in Kentucky with NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals, and the planting windows they give. These are long-term statistics, not a forecast. For the dates at the station nearest you, enter your ZIP code.

The planner uses the weather station nearest your ZIP code.

Frost dates across Kentucky

Each risk level uses a date with a set chance of frost. In spring, it's the chance of a 32°F frost on or after the last-frost date. In fall, it's the chance of the first 32°F frost on or before the first-frost date. At the Typical level (30%), the last frost ranges from April 2 to May 9 across the state, and the first frost from October 4 to November 5.

32°F frost dates: earliest and latest among 97 stations, by risk level
Risk levelEarliest last frostLatest last frostEarliest first frostLatest first frost
Conservative (10%)April 12EDDYVILLE 5S, KY USMay 20GRAYSON 3 SW, KY USSeptember 24SHELBYVILLE 1 E, KY USOctober 31LOUISVILLE MCALPINE, KY US
Typical (30%)April 2EDDYVILLE 5S, KY USMay 9GRAYSON 3 SW, KY USOctober 4SHELBYVILLE 1 E, KY USNovember 5LOUISVILLE MCALPINE, KY US
Aggressive (50%)March 27EDDYVILLE 5S, KY USMay 2GRAYSON 3 SW, KY USOctober 10SHELBYVILLE 1 E, KY USNovember 9LOUISVILLE MCALPINE, KY US

Growing season length

The growing season is the stretch between the last spring frost and the first fall frost at 32°F. NOAA gives it as a length with a chance of being at least that long. Each risk level uses the length with that chance of a shorter season, so Conservative shows the shortest lengths.

Growing season at 32°F: shortest and longest among 97 stations
Risk levelShortestLongest
Conservative (90% chance of at least this long)142 days2 stations205 daysEDDYVILLE 5S, KY US
Typical (70% chance of at least this long)153 daysGRAYSON 3 SW, KY US217 daysEDDYVILLE 5S, KY US
Aggressive (50% chance of at least this long)160 daysGRAYSON 3 SW, KY US225 days2 stations
Number of stations by growing season length, Typical (70% chance of at least this long)
Growing seasonStations
140–159 days2
160–179 days33
180–199 days47
200–219 days15

Planting windows across Kentucky

For each crop, the earliest start and the latest end of its Typical windows among the stations. A window at any one station is shorter and falls inside this span. Transplant dates are for seedlings.

Typical planting windows (30% frost dates): earliest start and latest end among stations
Crop and taskEarliest startLatest endStations
Basil: Transplant outdoorsApril 16May 2397 of 97
Bean: Sow outdoorsApril 2May 997 of 97
Beet: Sow outdoorsMarch 5May 997 of 97
Beet: Sow for fallJuly 12September 1697 of 97
Broccoli: Transplant outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Broccoli: Transplant for fallJuly 2September 1697 of 97
Brussels sprouts: Transplant outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Brussels sprouts: Transplant for fallJune 12September 2697 of 97
Cabbage: Transplant outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Cabbage: Transplant for fallJune 27September 1697 of 97
Cantaloupe: Transplant outdoorsApril 16May 2397 of 97
Cantaloupe: Sow outdoorsApril 16May 2397 of 97
Carrot: Sow outdoorsMarch 5May 997 of 97
Carrot: Sow for fallJuly 2September 697 of 97
Cucumber: Transplant outdoorsApril 9May 1697 of 97
Cucumber: Sow outdoorsApril 2May 997 of 97
Eggplant: Transplant outdoorsApril 16May 2397 of 97
Garlic: Plant for fallOctober 4November 1997 of 97
Lettuce: Transplant outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Lettuce: Sow outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Lettuce: Sow for fallJuly 2September 2697 of 97
Onion: Transplant or plant setsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Peas: Sow outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Peas: Sow for fallJuly 10September 1697 of 97
Pepper: Transplant outdoorsApril 16May 2397 of 97
Potato: Plant seed potatoesMarch 5May 997 of 97
Pumpkin: Sow outdoorsApril 16May 2397 of 97
Radish: Sow outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Radish: Sow for fallAugust 16October 1697 of 97
Spinach: Transplant outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Spinach: Sow outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Spinach: Sow for fallJuly 22September 2997 of 97
Summer squash: Transplant outdoorsApril 9May 1697 of 97
Summer squash: Sow outdoorsApril 2May 997 of 97
Sweet corn: Sow outdoorsApril 2May 997 of 97
Sweet potato: Plant slipsApril 9May 2397 of 97
Tomato: Transplant outdoorsApril 16May 2397 of 97
Turnip: Sow outdoorsMarch 5April 2597 of 97
Turnip: Sow for fallJuly 22September 2697 of 97
Watermelon: Transplant outdoorsApril 16May 2397 of 97
Watermelon: Sow outdoorsApril 16May 2397 of 97

Weather stations in Kentucky

Every station in Kentucky with NOAA frost-date normals, with its Typical 32°F frost dates and growing season.

Data sources

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, frost dates, 1991–2020 normals, version 1.0.1
Files: us-climate-normals_1991-2020_v1.0.1_annualseasonal_multivariate_by-station_c20230404.tar.gz, inventory_30yr.txt from NOAA NCEI. Retrieved October 10, 2026.