When to Plant Peppers in Kentucky
In Kentucky, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Apr 14 – Apr 28 in Shively to May 15 – May 29 in Shelbyville. In Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, it's Apr 20 – May 4. The average last spring frost differs by about 4 weeks across the state (Mar 31 in Shively, May 1 in Shelbyville), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Kentucky by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 6b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Ashland | 7a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Bardstown | 7a | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Berea | 7a | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Bowling Green | 7a | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Campbellsville | 7a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Covington | 6b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Danville | 7a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Elizabethtown | 7a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Erlanger | 6b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Florence | 6b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Fort Thomas | 6b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Frankfort | 6b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Georgetown | 6b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Glasgow | 7a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Henderson | 7a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Hopkinsville | 7a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Independence | 6b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Jeffersontown | 7a | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| La Grange | 6b | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Lawrenceburg | 6b | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Lexington-Fayette | 7a | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | 7a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Lyndon | 7a | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Madisonville | 7a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Mount Washington | 7a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Murray | 7b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Newport | 6b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Nicholasville | 7a | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Owensboro | 7a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Paducah | 7a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Radcliff | 7a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Richmond | 7a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Shelbyville | 6b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Shepherdsville | 7a | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Shively | 7a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Somerset | 7a | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| St. Matthews | 7a | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Versailles | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Winchester | 6b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Kentucky, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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