When to plant in Winchester, KY
USDA Zone 6bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Winchester, Kentucky — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Winchester's nearest full-normals station sits about 23 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. Zone 6b means Winchester sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
MT STERLING · 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 Winchester’s own odds, recorded at MT STERLING.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 21 | May 5 | Apr 21 | Sep 26 | Oct 8 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 24 | Apr 9 | Oct 6 | Oct 18 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F | Apr 29 | Apr 13 | Mar 28 | Oct 15 | Oct 28 | Nov 10 |
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 Winchester, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 30 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.
Winchester planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Winchester, KY?
Winchester's average last spring frost falls near April 24 — 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 Winchester, KY?
Expect Winchester's first fall frost near October 18 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Winchester in?
Winchester 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 Winchester?
There are roughly 177 frost-free days in Winchester (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 24 to the first fall frost near October 18.
When should I plant tomatoes in Winchester?
In Winchester, start tomato seeds indoors around February 27–March 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Winchester
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Winchester’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Paris · 23 km
- Lexington-Fayette urban county · 24 km
- Richmond · 32 km
- Nicholasville · 35 km
- Georgetown · 42 km
- Berea · 47 km
- Versailles · 47 km
- Lawrenceburg · 63 km
Frost dates recorded at MT STERLING, 23 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 Winchester, KY — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00155640. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/kentucky/winchester.