Somerset, KY planting zone & frost dates
Somerset is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost usually comes around April 5 and the first fall frost around October 30, for a growing season of about 206 days.
Planting calendar for Somerset
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 5) 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 8 – Feb 22 Transplant outdoors: Apr 12 – Apr 19 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 Transplant outdoors: Apr 19 – Apr 26 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 Transplant outdoors: Apr 19 – Apr 26 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 Transplant outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 Transplant outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 12 – Apr 19 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 12 – Apr 19 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 12 – Apr 19 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 12 – Apr 19 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 Transplant outdoors: Apr 12 – Apr 19 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 4 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 30).
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 21 | Apr 5 | Apr 25 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 13 | Oct 30 | Oct 17 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 25, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 17. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 25.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Somerset
- 42501 zone 7a
- 42502 zone 7a
- 42503 zone 7a
Nearby cities
- Berea zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Danville zone 7a, last frost Apr 9
- Richmond zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Campbellsville zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Nicholasville zone 7a, last frost Apr 7
- Lexington zone 7a, last frost Apr 13
- Lexington-Fayette zone 7a, last frost Apr 13
- Lawrenceburg zone 6b, last frost Apr 12
Questions
What growing zone is Somerset, KY?
Somerset 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 Somerset?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Somerset is April 5. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 25.
When can I plant tomatoes in Somerset?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 12 – Apr 19. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Somerset 2 N, KY (USC00157510), 3.0 km (1.9 mi) from the city center, elevation 311 m, based on 28 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.