When to plant tomatoes in Kentucky

Tomatoes
Plant out in Louisville/Jefferson County
Apr 13–Apr 27

Across Kentucky the window opens between April 9 and April 29. 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
Apr 13–Apr 27
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 25
Last frost, Louisville/Jefferson County
Apr 6

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Louisville/Jefferson CountyApr 13–Apr 27
Lexington-FayetteApr 20–May 4
Bowling GreenApr 12–Apr 26
OwensboroApr 9–Apr 23
CovingtonApr 23–May 7
GeorgetownApr 25–May 9
RichmondApr 22–May 6
ElizabethtownApr 23–May 7
FlorenceApr 25–May 9
NicholasvilleApr 20–May 4
HopkinsvilleApr 11–Apr 25
IndependenceApr 25–May 9
JeffersontownApr 10–Apr 24
FrankfortApr 22–May 6
HendersonApr 16–Apr 30
PaducahApr 13–Apr 27
RadcliffApr 23–May 7
AshlandApr 29–May 13
ErlangerApr 25–May 9

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Kentucky?

In Louisville/Jefferson County, plant out from April 13 to April 27. Across Kentucky the window opens between April 9 and April 29, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Kentucky

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Kentucky