Frost dates in Kentucky

Across Kentucky's 97 NOAA stations with a frost every year, the typical last spring frost ranges from March 27 at Eddyville 5 S (520 feet above sea level) to May 2 at Grayson 3 SW (700 feet above sea level). The middle station's date is April 15.

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Last frost across Kentucky

The frost-free season runs from 160 days at Grayson 3 SW to 225 days at Louisville Mcalpine.

These are typical dates: in half of springs the last frost comes later. Each place's page, and each ZIP code lookup, also gives the late-year date, after which only 1 spring in 10 has a frost. That's the safer date for tender plants.

Frost dates for Kentucky's larger places

Typical (1-in-2) dates. Each place's page has the early and late years, a planting calendar and a printable planner. Zones are for the ZIP code nearest each place's center.

Hardiness zones in Kentucky

Kentucky's 932 ZIP codes in the USDA list fall in zones 6b to 7b: 6b (20 percent), 7a (78 percent) and 7b (2 percent). Compared with the 2012 map, 79 percent of them moved to a warmer half zone (11 by a full zone or more) and 21 percent stayed the same.

A hardiness zone is about the coldest night of winter, which decides which shrubs, trees and perennials survive. Frost dates are about spring and fall, which decide when to plant. You need both. Read more about what the zones mean and what changed in 2023.

Every NOAA station in Kentucky

All 97 stations in Kentucky with frost statistics in NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, from A to Z. Station names are usually a town, an airport, or a distance and direction from a town. Find one near you and at a similar elevation.

Typical (1-in-2) dates at 32°F. For the early and late years, and a planting calendar built from your own dates, look up your ZIP code.