When to plant lettuce in Kentucky

Plant out in Louisville/Jefferson County

Mar 23–Apr 13

Across Kentucky the window opens between March 19 and April 8. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Louisville/Jefferson County: Feb 9–Feb 23
Plant out, Louisville/Jefferson County: Mar 23–Apr 13
Sow outdoors, Louisville/Jefferson County: Mar 9–Apr 13
Fall planting, Louisville/Jefferson County: Sep 6–Sep 20
Last frost, Louisville/Jefferson County: Apr 6

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 6–8 weeks before the first frost. Lettuce bolts in heat. Sow small batches every two weeks in spring and again in late summer.

Lettuce planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Louisville/Jefferson CountyMar 23–Apr 13

Lexington-FayetteMar 30–Apr 20

Bowling GreenMar 22–Apr 12

OwensboroMar 19–Apr 9

CovingtonApr 2–Apr 23

GeorgetownApr 4–Apr 25

RichmondApr 1–Apr 22

ElizabethtownApr 2–Apr 23

FlorenceApr 4–Apr 25

NicholasvilleMar 30–Apr 20

HopkinsvilleMar 21–Apr 11

IndependenceApr 4–Apr 25

JeffersontownMar 20–Apr 10

FrankfortApr 1–Apr 22

HendersonMar 26–Apr 16

PaducahMar 23–Apr 13

RadcliffApr 2–Apr 23

AshlandApr 8–Apr 29

ErlangerApr 4–Apr 25

Questions

When should I plant lettuce in Kentucky?

In Louisville/Jefferson County, plant out from March 23 to April 13. Across Kentucky the window opens between March 19 and April 8, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 6–8 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Kentucky

Lettuce in other states

Frost dates for every city in Kentucky