Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Bardstown, KY
Plan your garden around Bardstown, KY's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
April 13
Safe May 3
Typical Apr 13
Risky Mar 29
First Fall Frost
October 25
Safe Oct 13
Typical Oct 25
Risky Nov 6
Growing Season
195 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 7a
Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.
Data: NOAA station BARDSTOWN 5E, KY US, 7.3 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | — | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | — | Apr 27 – May 4 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | Apr 27 – May 4 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | Apr 27 – May 4 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | Aug 30 – Sep 13 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | Aug 30 – Sep 13 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | Aug 16 – Aug 30 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | Sep 13 – Sep 20 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | — | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | Aug 23 – Aug 30 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | — | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | Aug 16 – Aug 23 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Aug 16 – Aug 30 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | Aug 2 – Aug 16 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | Aug 16 – Aug 30 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | — | Sep 13 – Sep 27 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | Aug 16 – Aug 30 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Sep 27 – Oct 11 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Apr 27 – May 11 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | — | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | Aug 30 – Sep 13 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Bardstown, KY?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the BARDSTOWN 5E, KY US station, the last spring frost in Bardstown typically falls around April 13. A cautious gardener might wait until May 3 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while March 29 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Bardstown, KY in fall?
The first fall frost in Bardstown typically arrives around October 25. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 13; in milder years it can hold off until November 6.
How long is the growing season in Bardstown, KY?
Bardstown's average frost-free growing season is about 195 days, running from the typical last spring frost (April 13) to the typical first fall frost (October 25).
What USDA hardiness zone is Bardstown, KY in?
Bardstown, KY is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.