Owensboro, Kentucky planting calendar and frost dates
Owensboro is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 2 and the first fall frost around November 1, giving about 211 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 2
- Typical first frost
- November 1
- Frost-free season
- 211 days
Frost dates in Owensboro
Last spring frost
- March 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 20Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 19Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 15Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 211 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 23 and returns around November 10.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Calhoun Lock 2, 14.1 miles S 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 Owensboro
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, 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, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, 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, 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, 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, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, 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, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
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, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Owensboro
Owensboro's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 2 in 42301 to April 5 in 42303. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Owensboro
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 19 to 26 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 2 to Sep 6 |
| Cilantro | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 25 to Apr 1 | Jul 12 to 19 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Nov 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Dec 11 to Jan 22 | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 5 to Mar 5 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 12 to Aug 9 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 12 to Apr 2 | Aug 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 10 to 17 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 23 to May 7 | Aug 9 to 16 |
| Zucchini | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Broccoli | Jan 15 to Feb 5 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 16 to Sep 13 |
| Peas | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Feb 19 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 23 to Sep 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 2 to 23 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 30 to May 7 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
Nearby cities
- Evansville, IN zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Bowling Green, KY zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Clarksville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY zone 7a, last frost Mar 31
- Jeffersonville, IN zone 7a, last frost Mar 31
- Gallatin, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
Planting in KentuckyAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Owensboro
Questions
When is the last frost in Owensboro?
Around April 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Calhoun Lock 2. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 20.
What planting zone is Owensboro 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 Owensboro?
Start seeds indoors February 26 to March 12 and set plants out April 23 to May 7.
When is the first frost in Owensboro?
Around November 1 in a typical year, and before October 19 about 1 year in 10.