In Louisville, the average last spring frost is Mar 31 and the average first fall frost is Nov 7, a growing season of about 221 days (zone 7a). Start tomatoes indoors around Feb 17 and move them outside from Apr 14. Plant garlic Nov 14 to Nov 21, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Louisville at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Mar 31 (average)
- First fall frost
- Nov 7 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 221 days
- Hardiness zone
- 7a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Louisville Mcalpine, KY; Louisville Bowman Fld, KY; and Louisville Intl AP, KY, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Louisville this month (January)
- Start onions indoors: Jan 20
What to plant in Louisville this month (February)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Feb 17
- Start peppers indoors: Feb 17
- Start eggplant indoors: Feb 17
- Start lettuce indoors: Feb 17
- Start kale indoors: Feb 24
- Start broccoli indoors: Feb 24
- Start cabbage indoors: Feb 24
Coming up in early March: start basil indoors (Mar 3), direct sow spinach (Mar 10), direct sow peas (Mar 10) and direct sow radishes (Mar 10).
What to plant in Louisville this month (March)
- Start basil indoors: Mar 3
- Direct sow spinach: Mar 10
- Direct sow peas: Mar 10
- Direct sow radishes: Mar 10
- Transplant lettuce: Mar 17
- Direct sow carrots: Mar 17
- Start cucumbers indoors: Mar 17
- Start zucchini indoors: Mar 17
- Start winter squash indoors: Mar 17
- Direct sow beets: Mar 24
- Transplant kale: Mar 24
- Transplant broccoli: Mar 24
- Transplant cabbage: Mar 24
- Direct sow potatoes: Mar 24
- Transplant onions: Mar 31
Coming up in early April: transplant cucumbers (Apr 7), transplant zucchini (Apr 7), transplant winter squash (Apr 7), direct sow beans (Apr 7), transplant tomatoes (Apr 14), transplant peppers (Apr 14), transplant eggplant (Apr 14) and transplant basil (Apr 14).
What to plant in Louisville this month (April)
- Transplant cucumbers: Apr 7
- Transplant zucchini: Apr 7
- Transplant winter squash: Apr 7
- Direct sow beans: Apr 7
- Transplant tomatoes: Apr 14
- Transplant peppers: Apr 14
- Transplant eggplant: Apr 14
- Transplant basil: Apr 14
What to plant in Louisville this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Louisville in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 29.
What to plant in Louisville this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Louisville in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 29.
What to plant in Louisville this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Louisville in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 29.
What to plant in Louisville this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 29
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 29
Coming up in early September: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Sep 12).
What to plant in Louisville this month (September)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Sep 12
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Sep 19
Coming up in early October: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Oct 3).
What to plant in Louisville this month (October)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 3
Coming up in early November: plant garlic (Nov 14).
What to plant in Louisville this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Nov 14 to Nov 21
What to plant in Louisville this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Louisville in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Jan 20.
Louisville planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 17 | Transplant Apr 14 | From Jul 1 |
| Peppers | Feb 17 | Transplant Apr 14 | From Jun 25 |
| Eggplant | Feb 17 | Transplant Apr 14 | From Jun 28 |
| Basil | Mar 3 | Transplant Apr 14 | From May 26 |
| Onions (from seed) | Jan 20 | Transplant Mar 31 | From Jul 9 |
| Lettuce | Feb 17 | Transplant Mar 17Fall: direct sow Sep 12 | From Apr 26Fall: from Oct 22 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Mar 10Fall: direct sow Sep 19 | From Apr 19Fall: from Oct 29 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Mar 10Fall: direct sow Aug 29 | From May 9Fall: from Oct 28 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 10Fall: direct sow Oct 3 | From Apr 4Fall: from Oct 28 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Mar 17 | From May 26 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Mar 24 | From May 18 |
| Kale | Feb 24 | Transplant Mar 24Fall: direct sow Aug 29 | From May 18Fall: from Oct 23 |
| Broccoli | Feb 24 | Transplant Mar 24 | From May 28 |
| Cabbage | Feb 24 | Transplant Mar 24 | From Jun 2 |
| Cucumbers | Mar 17 | Transplant Apr 7 | From Jun 1 |
| Zucchini | Mar 17 | Transplant Apr 7 | From May 27 |
| Winter squash | Mar 17 | Transplant Apr 7 | From Jul 6 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Apr 7 | From Jun 1 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 24 | From Jun 12 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Nov 14 to Nov 21 | Around Jun 23 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Louisville's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Louisville
Plant garlic Nov 14 to Nov 21. That is one to two weeks after Louisville's average first fall frost of Nov 7, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jun 23 the following summer.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Louisville:
- Peas: sow Aug 29, ready from about Oct 28
- Kale: sow Aug 29, ready from about Oct 23
- Lettuce: sow Sep 12, ready from about Oct 22
- Spinach: sow Sep 19, ready from about Oct 29
- Radishes: sow Oct 3, ready from about Oct 28
Nearby planting calendars
Louisville planting questions
When is the last frost in Louisville?
The average last spring frost in Louisville is Mar 31, and the average first fall frost is Nov 7, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Louisville?
Start tomatoes indoors around Feb 17, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Apr 14, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Louisville in fall?
Garlic goes in Nov 14 to Nov 21. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 29, lettuce around Sep 12, spinach around Sep 19 and radishes around Oct 3.