When to Plant in Louisville, KY

Louisville sits along the Ohio River — Zone 6b with a typical last frost around April 18. The Ohio River valley creates a slightly warmer microclimate than the Kentucky Bluegrass to the south, giving Louisville gardeners an earlier start than Lexington.

The Louisville metro area supports excellent spring and fall gardens. The Derby City's climate is similar to Cincinnati and Indianapolis, with hot, humid summers and four distinct seasons that support a wide range of vegetable crops.

This month in Louisville: November 2026

Louisville's first frost usually comes around October 22, so by November the tomatoes and peppers are done. Out in the county it's colder than in town, and the low spots near the creeks freeze first.

Kale, collards, turnips, and spinach keep growing on the mild days and get sweeter on the cold nights. Most years they'll keep producing well into December, longer under a row cover.

Garlic can go in through mid-November. Louisville's slow-cooling fall gives it time to root before winter. Spread compost or shredded leaves on the empty beds so the soil stays covered through the wet months.

Updated November 3, 2026

What to plant now in Louisville

Spring: Cool-season crops in March; tomatoes and peppers after April 18 last frost.
Summer: Full warm-season garden. July and August are intense.
Fall: Outstanding — broccoli, kale, lettuce, carrots, and spinach.
Winter: Garlic overwintering, cover crops, and seed starting in February.

In Louisville (187 frost-free days, a long season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.

Month by month in Louisville

Month	What to do
January	Order seeds. Start onion seeds indoors.
February	Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors.
March	Direct sow peas, spinach, and lettuce. Transplant cold-hardy crops.
April	After April 3 — transplant tomatoes and peppers. Plant beans and squash.
May	Full spring garden. Plant cucumbers and corn.
June	Summer maintenance. Water deeply.
July	Start fall seedlings. Harvest summer crops.
August	Plant fall broccoli, kale, and cauliflower.
September	Fall planting: lettuce, spinach, radishes.
October	Plant garlic. Continue fall planting.
November	Harvest fall crops.
December	Harvest cold-hardy greens.

Frost dates for Louisville ZIP codes

ZIP	Last spring frost (50%)	First fall frost (50%)	Zone
40214	April 18	October 22	7a
40216	April 18	October 22	7a
40272	April 20	October 16	7a
40220	April 24	October 16	7a
40207	April 18	October 22	7a
40280	April 18	October 22	7a

FAQ

When is the last frost date in Louisville, KY?

Louisville's average last frost date is around April 18. The Ohio River valley's warming effect gives Louisville an earlier start than many Kentucky cities.

What grows best in Louisville?

Tomatoes, peppers, and warm-season crops thrive in spring and summer. Fall is excellent for broccoli, kale, lettuce, and carrots.

How does Plan My Garden help Louisville gardeners?

Enter your Louisville zip code for exact planting dates calibrated to the Ohio River valley's growing calendar.