When to Plant Tomatoes in Kentucky
In Kentucky, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Apr 7 – Apr 21 in Shively to May 8 – May 22 in Shelbyville. In Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, it's Apr 13 – Apr 27. 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.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in Kentucky by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 6b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Ashland | 7a | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Bardstown | 7a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Berea | 7a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Bowling Green | 7a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Campbellsville | 7a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Covington | 6b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Danville | 7a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Elizabethtown | 7a | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Erlanger | 6b | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Florence | 6b | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Fort Thomas | 6b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Frankfort | 6b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Georgetown | 6b | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Glasgow | 7a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Henderson | 7a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Hopkinsville | 7a | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Independence | 6b | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Jeffersontown | 7a | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| La Grange | 6b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Lawrenceburg | 6b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Lexington-Fayette | 7a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | 7a | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Lyndon | 7a | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Madisonville | 7a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Mount Washington | 7a | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Murray | 7b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Newport | 6b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Nicholasville | 7a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Owensboro | 7a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Paducah | 7a | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Radcliff | 7a | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Richmond | 7a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Shelbyville | 6b | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Shepherdsville | 7a | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Shively | 7a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Somerset | 7a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| St. Matthews | 7a | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Versailles | 7a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Winchester | 6b | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 1 – May 15 |
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 tomatoes.
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