When to plant in Shelbyville, KY
USDA Zone 6bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Shelbyville, Kentucky — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6b means Shelbyville sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
SHELBYVILLE 1 E · 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 Shelbyville’s own odds, recorded at SHELBYVILLE 1 E.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 25 | May 9 | Apr 28 | Sep 15 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | May 15 | May 1 | Apr 19 | Sep 24 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F | May 7 | Apr 24 | Apr 10 | Oct 4 | Oct 21 | Nov 4 |
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 Shelbyville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Shelbyville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Shelbyville, KY?
On average, the last spring frost in Shelbyville is around May 1 (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 Shelbyville, KY?
The first fall frost in Shelbyville typically arrives around October 10 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Shelbyville in?
Shelbyville 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 Shelbyville?
There are roughly 162 frost-free days in Shelbyville (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around May 1 to the first fall frost near October 10.
When should I plant tomatoes in Shelbyville?
In Shelbyville, start tomato seeds indoors around March 6–March 20, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 8 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Shelbyville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Shelbyville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- La Grange · 25 km
- Jeffersontown · 29 km
- Lyndon · 32 km
- Frankfort · 32 km
- Mount Washington · 34 km
- Lawrenceburg · 35 km
- St. Matthews · 36 km
- Louisville/Jefferson County metro government · 36 km
Frost dates recorded at SHELBYVILLE 1 E, 3 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 Shelbyville, KY — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00157324. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/kentucky/shelbyville.