Bowling Green, Kentucky planting calendar and frost dates
Bowling Green is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 5 and the first fall frost around October 31, giving about 208 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 5
- Typical first frost
- October 31
- Frost-free season
- 208 days
Frost dates in Bowling Green
Last spring frost
- March 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 5Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 21Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 20Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 31Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 11Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 208 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 24 and returns around November 10.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bowling Green Warren Co Airport, 2.1 miles SSE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Bowling Green
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Bowling Green
All 3 of Bowling Green's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Bowling Green Warren Co Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Bowling Green
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 8 to 22 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 1 to Sep 5 |
| Cilantro | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 5 to 12 | — |
| Basil | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 19 to 26 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
| Onions | Dec 14 to Jan 25 | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 1 to Mar 1 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 15 to Apr 5 | Aug 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 6 to 13 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 18 to Feb 8 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Peas | — | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Feb 22 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 22 to Sep 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 5 to 26 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 26 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 19 to Nov 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 19 to Oct 31 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
Nearby cities
- Gallatin, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- Hendersonville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- Lebanon, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 10
- Clarksville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Nashville-Davidson, TN zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
- Owensboro, KY zone 7a, last frost Apr 2
Planting in KentuckyAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Bowling Green
Questions
When is the last frost in Bowling Green?
Around April 5 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Bowling Green Warren Co Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 21.
What planting zone is Bowling Green in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bowling Green?
Start seeds indoors February 22 to March 8 and set plants out April 19 to May 3; the safest date to plant out is after April 21.
When is the first frost in Bowling Green?
Around October 31 in a typical year, and before October 20 about 1 year in 10.