Frost dates & planting calendar for Louisville, KY
Frost dates
Apr 6
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 23. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Nov 1
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 21. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
209
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
7a
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 0 to 5°F (−17.8 to −15.0°C).
Zone for ZIP 40218, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 7a means.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 209 days. Station: Louisville Wfo, KY, 6 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Feb 26 to Mar 12, then plant them out from Apr 23 to May 7.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Apr 23 in spring, Oct 21 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
February
The next window opens in February.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 12
- Start indoors
- Feb 12 – Feb 26
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 23 – May 7
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 12
- Start indoors
- Feb 12 – Feb 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 26
- Start indoors
- Feb 26 – Mar 12
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 23 – May 7
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 26
- Start indoors
- Feb 26 – Mar 12
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 23 – May 7
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 26
- Start indoors
- Feb 26 – Mar 12
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 26
- Start indoors
- Feb 26 – Mar 12
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 26
- Start indoors
- Feb 26 – Mar 12
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 23
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 26
- Start indoors
- Feb 26 – Mar 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 2
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 26
- Start indoors
- Feb 26 – Feb 26
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 23
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 26
- Start indoors
- Feb 26 – Mar 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 23
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 26
- Start indoors
- Feb 26 – Mar 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 23
March
The next window opens in March.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 12
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 12 – Apr 9
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 12
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 12 – Apr 9
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 23
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 23
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 26
- Start indoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 30
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 26
- Start indoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 30
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 26
- Start indoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 30 – May 7
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 26
- Start indoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 30 – May 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 30 – May 7
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 26
- Start indoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 30 – May 7
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 23
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
April
The next window opens in April.
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 2
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 2
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 16
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 23
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 23
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 23
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 23
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 23
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 23
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 30
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 30 – May 7
May
The next window opens in May.
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 7
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 9
- Sow for fall
- Sep 9 – Sep 9
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Louisville?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Louisville is Apr 6. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Apr 23.
- When is the first frost in Louisville?
- The typical first fall frost is Nov 1. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 21.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Louisville?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Feb 26 and Mar 12, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Louisville in?
- Louisville is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 40218, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- Indianapolis, IN 184 km
- Nashville, TN 244 km
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