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Frost dates and planting calendar for Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
7a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 16[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 25[3]
Growing season, median
191 days[4]

Elizabethtown, Kentucky is in USDA hardiness zone 7a[1]. The median last spring frost is April 16, which means a last frost after that date in half of years[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 31, half of years Apr 16, 1 in 10 years after May 4Last frostmedian Apr 16First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 3, half of years Oct 25, 1 in 10 years before Oct 13First frostmedian Oct 25Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 19 to Apr 2Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 16around Apr 16Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 30from Apr 30
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

The frost dates here come from NOAA climate normals for the Elizabethtown Wp Cs weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after March 31, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 4[2]. In the fall, the median first frost is October 25[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 13[3]. These are odds from past years and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[2].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 31 after April 16 after May 4
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 13 before October 25 before November 3
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 1, median first fall date November 3[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 168 days in 9 of 10 years, 191 days in half of years and 210 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Elizabethtown Wp Cs (USC00152512), 1.7 miles from the city center, 690 feet, 17 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so treat the dates here as a starting point[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which works out to March 19 to April 2[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, which is April 2[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be planted from seed around April 16[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, and the earliest start is April 30[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 16) is March 19 to April 2[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 16) is April 2, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 16[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 16), is April 30[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 19 May 23 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 19 Jun 12 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 19 May 8
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 19 May 18
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 19 Jul 7
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 19 May 23
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 19 Apr 18
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 19 Apr 28
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 19 May 8
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 2 Jun 1
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 2 Jun 11
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 2 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 2 Jun 11
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 2 Aug 5
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 2 Jun 1
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 16 Jun 15
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 16 Jun 15
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 16 Jun 10
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 16 Jun 5
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 30 Jul 24
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 30 Jun 29 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 30 Jul 9 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 30 Jul 4 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 30 Aug 8
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 30 Jul 24
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The 2023 USDA map puts the city center in zone 7a, which means an average coldest night of 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on the coldest winter night and not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Elizabethtown overlaps 2 ZIP code areas, and 100% of its land area lies in areas rated zone 7a[15].

Zone 7a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 0°F to 5°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 1.3°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 7a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 7a and what zone 7a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
42701[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
42724[15] 7a 0 to 5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Elizabethtown, Kentucky?
The center of Elizabethtown is in USDA zone 7a on the 2023 map[1]. All of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated 7a[15].
When is the last frost in Elizabethtown?
The median last spring frost at the NOAA station is April 16, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 4[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Elizabethtown?
Colorado State University Extension says tomatoes are very tender and typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. Using the median last frost of April 16, the earliest start is April 30[11].
When is the first frost in Elizabethtown?
The median first fall frost is October 25, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 13[3].
How long is the growing season in Elizabethtown?
The growing season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 191 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 168 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Elizabethtown, Kentucky in zone 7a. Zone 7a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 1.3°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after March 31, in half of years after April 16, and in 1 of 10 years after May 4 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 16. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 13, in half of years before October 25, and in 9 of 10 years before November 3 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 25. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 168 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 191 days in half of years, and at least 210 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Elizabethtown Wp Cs weather station (USC00152512), 1.7 miles from the center of Elizabethtown at 690 feet, using 17 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 1 and the median first fall date is November 3. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Elizabethtown, Kentucky overlaps 2 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.