When is the last frost in Louisville, KY?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Louisville is March 31, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until April 16.

When is the first frost in Louisville?

The average first fall frost in Louisville is November 7, with a growing season of about 222 days.

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Louisville, Kentucky frost dates

Average last spring frost: March 31. Average first fall frost: November 7. That gives a growing season of about 222 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is April 16, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Mar 31

1-in-10 risk after Apr 16

First frost (50%)

Nov 7

1-in-10 risk before Oct 28

Growing season

222 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Mar 20

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	March 14	November 23
70%	March 24	November 12
50%	March 31	November 7
30%	April 4	November 2
10%	April 16	October 28

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after April 16. These are NOAA probabilities for the Louisville International Airport weather station (USW00093821, elevation 149 m), 1991–2020.

Louisville vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (March 31). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (Apr 16) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Mar 10	Apr 7 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Jan 20	Mar 3
Brussels sprouts	Jan 20	Mar 3
Cabbage	Jan 13	Feb 24
Cauliflower	Feb 3	Mar 17
Sweet corn	Mar 3	Mar 31 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Mar 17	Apr 7
Kale	Jan 13	Feb 24
Leeks	Dec 16	Feb 24
Lettuce	Feb 10	Mar 17
Melons	Mar 24	Apr 14
Onions	Dec 9	Feb 17 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Feb 3	Mar 3 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Feb 17	Apr 14
Squash	Mar 24	Apr 14
Tomatoes	Feb 3	Mar 31

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around November 7. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 28. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around November 17.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Lexington, KY	Apr 13	Oct 28	~100 km
Cincinnati, OH	Apr 18	Oct 25	~134 km
Evansville, IN	Apr 4	Oct 29	~156 km
Indianapolis, IN	Apr 15	Oct 26	~176 km
Dayton, OH	Apr 16	Oct 28	~233 km
Nashville, TN	Mar 31	Nov 3	~243 km

More: all Kentucky frost dates