Lexington-Fayette urban county, Kentucky planting calendar and frost dates
Lexington-Fayette urban county is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 13 and the first fall frost around October 28, giving about 196 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 13
- Typical first frost
- October 28
- Frost-free season
- 196 days
Frost dates in Lexington-Fayette urban county
Last spring frost
- March 30Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 13Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 16Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 28Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 8Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 196 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 31 and returns around November 6.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lexington Bluegrass Airport, 8 miles W 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, 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: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, 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, potatoes, 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: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, 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, hyacinths, 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, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Lexington-Fayette urban county
All 7 of Lexington-Fayette urban county's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Lexington Bluegrass Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40503 | 7a | Lexington Bluegrass Airport, 8 mi W | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
| 40509 | 7a | Lexington Bluegrass Airport, 8 mi W | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
| 40510 | 7a | Lexington Bluegrass Airport, 8 mi W | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
| 40511 | 7a | Lexington Bluegrass Airport, 8 mi W | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
| 40513 | 7a | Lexington Bluegrass Airport, 8 mi W | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
| 40515 | 7a | Lexington Bluegrass Airport, 8 mi W | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
| 40516 | 7a | Lexington Bluegrass Airport, 8 mi W | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Lexington-Fayette urban county
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 2 to 16 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Apr 6 to 20 | Jul 29 to Sep 2 |
| Cilantro | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 13 to 20 | — |
| Basil | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 2 to 16 | Oct 28 to Nov 11 |
| Onions | Dec 22 to Feb 2 | Mar 16 to 30 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 9 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 23 to Apr 13 | Aug 5 to 26 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 15 to 22 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 13 to 27 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 26 to Feb 16 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 12 to Sep 9 |
| Peas | — | Mar 2 to 16 | Aug 5 to 19 |
| Spinach | Mar 2 to 9 | Apr 6 to 20 | Aug 19 to Sep 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 13 to May 4 | — |
| Zinnias | May 5 to 12 | Jun 2 to 16 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 16 to Nov 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 16 to Oct 28 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 2 to 16 | Sep 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY zone 7a, last frost Mar 31
- Jeffersonville, IN zone 7a, last frost Mar 31
- Cincinnati, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Hamilton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 19
- Middletown, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Columbus, IN zone 6b, last frost Apr 11
Planting in KentuckyAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Lexington-Fayette urban county
Questions
When is the last frost in Lexington-Fayette urban county?
Around April 13 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lexington Bluegrass Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 1.
What planting zone is Lexington-Fayette urban county in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lexington-Fayette urban county?
Start seeds indoors March 2 to 16 and set plants out April 27 to May 11; the safest date to plant out is after May 1.
When is the first frost in Lexington-Fayette urban county?
Around October 28 in a typical year, and before October 16 about 1 year in 10.