Lexington, Kentucky: planting zone & frost dates
Lexington is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C). The typical last spring frost is around Apr 20 and the first fall frost around Oct 23.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | May 1 | Oct 16 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Apr 20 | Oct 23 |
| Median (50%) | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AP, KY (USW00093820), 8.0 mi (12.9 km) from the city center and 79 ft lower than the city center (-24 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 30 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Lexington
All 15 ZIP codes covering Lexington are in zone 7a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Lexington
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 23). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 11 | — | — |
| Pepper | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | Mar 23 – May 4 | Aug 14 – Sep 11 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Apr 27 – Jun 1 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 27 – May 25 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | Apr 27 – May 11 | Apr 27 – May 18 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Cucumber | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | May 4 – May 11 | Apr 27 – May 18 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 30 – May 4 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Onion | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | — | — |
| Basil | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 4 – May 18 | May 4 – May 25 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Mar 9 – Apr 6 | Aug 28 – Sep 25 |
| Kale | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Aug 14 – Sep 11 |
| Broccoli | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | — | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Peas | — | — | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | Aug 14 – Aug 28 |
| Eggplant | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Radish | — | — | Mar 16 – May 4 | Sep 11 – Oct 9 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 30 – May 11 | Aug 14 – Aug 28 |
Nearby cities in Kentucky
- Louisville — zone 7a, last frost Apr 13, first frost Oct 29
- Bowling Green — zone 7a, last frost Apr 11, first frost Oct 26
More: all Kentucky cities · other zone 7a cities: Louisville, KY, Wichita, KS, Cleveland, OH, St. Louis, MO, Boise, ID, Amarillo, TX, Providence, RI, Paterson, NJ
Lexington gardening questions
When is the last frost in Lexington, KY?
Plan around Apr 20. At NOAA's Lexington Bluegrass Airport, KY station, 8.0 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Apr 13, and after May 1 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Mar 31. The 90% and 10% dates are 32 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lexington, KY?
Start seeds indoors Feb 23 – Mar 9 and set transplants outside Apr 27 – May 11, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 186 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Lexington?
About 196 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 175 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 217 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Oct 16 and a 30% chance by Oct 23. That is the shortest of the 3 Kentucky cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Lexington?
Count back from the first fall frost (Oct 23): transplant broccoli Jul 31 – Aug 14; sow kale Aug 14 – Sep 11; sow lettuce Aug 14 – Sep 11; sow radishes Sep 11 – Oct 9. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Nov 6. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Lexington's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
Yes. Most of Lexington was zone 6b on the 2012 map and is zone 7a on the 2023 map — half a zone warmer, like about 56% of U.S. ZIP codes. The shift comes from a newer 1991–2020 averaging period plus more weather stations and better mapping; it does not mean last frost comes earlier. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
How does Lexington compare with Louisville, KY?
Both are in zone 7a. The typical last spring frost in Lexington (Apr 20) comes about 7 days later than in Louisville, KY (Apr 13), 65 miles away, and the first fall frost is Oct 23 versus Oct 29. Lexington sits about 539 ft higher, which explains part of the gap. The two cities use different NOAA stations.