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When to plant in Bowling Green, KY

USDA Zone 7a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Bowling Green, Kentucky — all computed from Bowling Green's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 7a, Bowling Green supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.

Station · BOWLING GREEN WARREN CO AP · 1.6 km
Last spring frost
April 5
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 31
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
209 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for Bowling GreenA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Bowling Green: last spring frost around April 5, first fall frost around October 31, about 209 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

BOWLING GREEN WARREN CO AP · 1991–2020

The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Bowling Green’s own odds, recorded at BOWLING GREEN WARREN CO AP.

Frost-probability curves for Bowling GreenProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 5 and the first fall frost around October 31, giving about 209 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 4Apr 16Apr 2Oct 9Oct 22Nov 2
32°FApr 21Apr 5Mar 20Oct 20Oct 31Nov 11
28°FApr 7Mar 24Mar 4Oct 30Nov 10Nov 25

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Brussels Sprouts
July 11July 25
Fall sowin 6 days
Rutabaga
July 25August 8
Fall sowin 20 days
Broccoli
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Cabbage
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Carrot
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Cauliflower
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Napa Cabbage
August 8September 5

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Bowling Green, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 31 km · complete 32°F normals

When stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.

BOWLING GREEN WARREN CO AP
Primary
2 km · 159 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 5
FALL
Oct 31
BARREN RVR LAKE
29 km · 188 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 12
FALL
Oct 29
MAMMOTH CAVE
31 km · 232 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 9
FALL
Oct 30

Bowling Green planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Bowling Green, KY?

On average, the last spring frost in Bowling Green is around April 5 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Bowling Green, KY?

Expect Bowling Green's first fall frost near October 31 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Bowling Green in?

Bowling Green is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Bowling Green?

Bowling Green has about 209 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 5) and first fall frost (October 31).

When should I plant tomatoes in Bowling Green?

For Bowling Green, sow tomatoes indoors about February 8–February 22 and move the seedlings out around April 12, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Bowling Green

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bowling Green’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at BOWLING GREEN WARREN CO AP, 2 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Bowling Green, KY — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093808. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/kentucky/bowling-green.