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When to plant in Frankfort, KY

USDA Zone 6b

Frankfort, Kentucky frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.

In zone 6b, Frankfort gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.

Station · FRANKFORT CAPITAL CITY AP · 3.5 km
Last spring frost
April 15
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 24
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
192 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for FrankfortA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Frankfort: last spring frost around April 15, first fall frost around October 24, about 192 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

FRANKFORT CAPITAL CITY 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 Frankfort’s own odds, recorded at FRANKFORT CAPITAL CITY AP.

Frost-probability curves for FrankfortProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 15 and the first fall frost around October 24, giving about 192 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 13Apr 26Apr 12Oct 3Oct 15Oct 26
32°FMay 5Apr 15Mar 31Oct 13Oct 24Nov 5
28°FApr 22Apr 3Mar 16Oct 23Nov 4Nov 17

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
Rutabaga
July 18August 1
Fall sowin 13 days
Broccoli
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Cabbage
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Carrot
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Cauliflower
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Napa Cabbage
August 1August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Beet
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Collards
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Endive
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Escarole
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Kale
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Kohlrabi
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Peas
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Radicchio
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Swiss Chard
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Turnip
August 15September 12

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 Frankfort, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 28 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.

FRANKFORT CAPITAL CITY AP
Primary
3 km · 245 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 15
FALL
Oct 24
VERSAILLES 3 NNW
15 km · 272 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 12
FALL
Oct 28
LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AP
28 km · 299 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 13
FALL
Oct 28

Frankfort planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Frankfort, KY?

On average, the last spring frost in Frankfort is around April 15 (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 Frankfort, KY?

The first fall frost in Frankfort typically arrives around October 24 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Frankfort in?

Frankfort 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 Frankfort?

Frankfort has about 192 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 15) and first fall frost (October 24).

When should I plant tomatoes in Frankfort?

For Frankfort, sow tomatoes indoors about February 18–March 4 and move the seedlings out around April 22, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Frankfort

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at FRANKFORT CAPITAL CITY AP, 3 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 Frankfort, KY — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00053841. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/kentucky/frankfort.