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Frost dates and planting calendar for Lexington, 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 13[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 28[3]
Growing season, median
196 days[4]

The USDA map puts the center of Lexington, Kentucky in zone 7a[1]. The median last spring frost is April 13, which means a last frost after that date in half of years[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 30, half of years Apr 13, 1 in 10 years after May 1Last frostmedian Apr 13First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 8, half of years Oct 28, 1 in 10 years before Oct 16First frostmedian Oct 28Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 13around Apr 13Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 27from Apr 27
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.

These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Lexington Bluegrass Airport weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 13, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 1[2]. In 9 of 10 years it comes after March 30[2]. In the fall, the first frost comes before October 28 in half of years, and before November 8 in 9 of 10 years[3]. These are odds from past records and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 30 after April 13 after May 1
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 16 before October 28 before November 8
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 31, median first fall date November 6[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 175 days in 9 of 10 years, 196 days in half of years and 217 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: Lexington Bluegrass Airport (USW00093820), 8 miles from the city center, 980 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension's planting guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts used the NOAA median last frost of April 13 as the average last frost to turn its rules into dates for Lexington[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that frost, which is March 16 to March 30[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots, beets and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before it, which is March 30[9]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant typically wait 2 or more weeks after the last frost, so the earliest start is April 27[10]. Tender vegetables like snap beans and sweet corn can be planted from seed around April 13[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 13) is March 16 to March 30[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 13) is March 30, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 13[11]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 13), is April 27[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 20 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 16 Jun 9 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 5
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 15
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 16 Jul 4
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 20
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 16 Apr 15
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 16 Apr 25
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 5
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 May 29
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 Jun 8
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 Jun 8
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 Aug 2
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 May 29
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 12
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 12
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 7
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 2
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jul 21
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jun 26 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jul 6 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jul 1 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Aug 5
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jul 21
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

Zone 7a means an average yearly coldest night of 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on winter cold, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Lexington is almost all zone 7a, with 98% of its land area in ZIP code areas rated 7a and 2% in areas rated 6b[15].

Zone 7a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 0°F to 5°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 0.7°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 7a 98%, zone 6b 2%[15].

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

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
40511[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40515[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40509[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40516[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40510[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40513[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40503[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40505[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40502[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40517[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40504[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40508[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40514[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40324[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
40361[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
40391[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
40507[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
40536[15] 7a 0 to 5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Lexington, Kentucky?
The center of Lexington is in USDA zone 7a[1]. By land area, 98% of the city is in ZIP code areas rated 7a and 2% is in areas rated 6b[15].
When is the last frost in Lexington?
The median last spring frost is April 13, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 1[2].
When is the first frost in Lexington?
The median first fall frost is October 28, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 16[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Lexington?
CSU Extension typically says very tender vegetables like tomatoes wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, and the earliest start is April 27[10]. The CSU guide was written for Colorado[10].
How long is the growing season in Lexington?
The growing season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 196 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 175 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Lexington, 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 0.7°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 30, in half of years after April 13, and in 1 of 10 years after May 1 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 13. 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 16, in half of years before October 28, and in 9 of 10 years before November 8 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 28. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 175 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 196 days in half of years, and at least 217 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Lexington Bluegrass Airport weather station (USW00093820), 8 miles from the center of Lexington at 980 feet, using 30 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 March 31 and the median first fall date is November 6. 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 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
  11. 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
  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. Lexington, Kentucky overlaps 18 ZIP code areas. By land area, 98% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a, 2% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6b. 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.