Owensboro, KY planting zone & frost dates
Owensboro is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost usually comes around April 3 and the first fall frost around November 2, for a growing season of about 214 days.
Planting calendar for Owensboro
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 3) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Feb 6 – Feb 20 Transplant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 Transplant outdoors: Apr 17 – Apr 24 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 Transplant outdoors: Apr 17 – Apr 24 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 Transplant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 Transplant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 20 – Mar 6 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 20 – Mar 6 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 20 – Mar 6 Transplant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 7 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 2).
Useful for zone 7a gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Mar 18 | Apr 3 | Apr 17 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 16 | Nov 2 | Oct 22 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 17, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 22. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 22.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Owensboro
- 42301 zone 7a
- 42302 zone 7a
- 42303 zone 7a
- 42304 zone 7a
Nearby cities
- Henderson zone 7a, last frost Apr 9
- Madisonville zone 7a, last frost Apr 2
- Hopkinsville zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Bowling Green zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Fort Knox zone 7a, last frost Apr 19
- Radcliff zone 7a, last frost Apr 16
- Fort Campbell North zone 7a, last frost Apr 6
- Elizabethtown zone 7a, last frost Apr 16
Questions
What growing zone is Owensboro, KY?
Owensboro is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average extreme winter low 0°F to 5°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Owensboro?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Owensboro is April 3. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 17.
When can I plant tomatoes in Owensboro?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 10 – Apr 17. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Newburgh L&D, IN (USC00126151), 28.9 km (17.9 mi) from the city center, elevation 116 m, based on 10 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.