When to Plant Potatoes in Kentucky
In Kentucky, the time to plant potatoes outside runs from Mar 10 – Mar 24 in Shively to Apr 10 – Apr 24 in Shelbyville. In Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, it's Mar 16 – Mar 30. 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.
Plant seed potatoes a few weeks before the last frost; cover any shoots if a late frost threatens.
- Plant outside: 1–3 weeks before the last frost.
Potatoes planting dates in Kentucky by city
| City | Zone | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 6b | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Ashland | 7a | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Bardstown | 7a | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Berea | 7a | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Bowling Green | 7a | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Campbellsville | 7a | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Covington | 6b | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Danville | 7a | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Elizabethtown | 7a | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Erlanger | 6b | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Florence | 6b | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Fort Thomas | 6b | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Frankfort | 6b | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Georgetown | 6b | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Glasgow | 7a | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Henderson | 7a | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Hopkinsville | 7a | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Independence | 6b | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Jeffersontown | 7a | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| La Grange | 6b | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Lawrenceburg | 6b | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Lexington-Fayette | 7a | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | 7a | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Lyndon | 7a | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Madisonville | 7a | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Mount Washington | 7a | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Murray | 7b | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Newport | 6b | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Nicholasville | 7a | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Owensboro | 7a | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Paducah | 7a | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Radcliff | 7a | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Richmond | 7a | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Shelbyville | 6b | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Shepherdsville | 7a | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Shively | 7a | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Somerset | 7a | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| St. Matthews | 7a | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Versailles | 7a | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Winchester | 6b | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
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 potatoes.
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