When to plant in Covington, KY
USDA Zone 6bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Covington, Kentucky — all computed from Covington's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 6b means Covington sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
CINCINNATI LUNKEN AP · 1991–2020The 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 Covington’s own odds, recorded at CINCINNATI LUNKEN AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 14 | Apr 29 | Apr 14 | Oct 2 | Oct 14 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | May 3 | Apr 16 | Apr 2 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Apr 18 | Apr 2 | Mar 19 | Oct 24 | Nov 4 | Nov 18 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Covington, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen 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.
Covington planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Covington, KY?
Covington's average last spring frost falls near April 16 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Covington, KY?
Expect Covington's first fall frost near October 25 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Covington in?
Covington is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Covington?
There are roughly 192 frost-free days in Covington (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 16 to the first fall frost near October 25.
When should I plant tomatoes in Covington?
In Covington, start tomato seeds indoors around February 19–March 5, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 23 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Covington
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Covington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Newport · 6 km
- Erlanger · 7 km
- Fort Thomas · 8 km
- Independence · 9 km
- Cincinnati · 12 km
- Florence · 12 km
- Alexandria · 14 km
- Oakbrook · 15 km
Frost dates recorded at CINCINNATI LUNKEN AP, 12 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Covington, KY — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093812. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/kentucky/covington.