Elizabethtown, KY planting zone & frost dates
Elizabethtown is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost usually comes around April 16 and the first fall frost around October 25, for a growing season of about 191 days.
Planting calendar for Elizabethtown
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 16) 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 19 – Mar 5 Transplant outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 5 – Feb 19 Transplant outdoors: Apr 30 – May 7 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 5 – Feb 19 Transplant outdoors: Apr 30 – May 7 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 5 – Feb 19 Transplant outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 5 – Feb 19 Transplant outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 5 – Mar 19 Transplant outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 30 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 25).
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 31 | Apr 16 | May 4 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 3 | Oct 25 | Oct 13 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 4, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 13. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 1.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Elizabethtown
- 42701 zone 7a
- 42702 zone 7a
Nearby cities
- Radcliff zone 7a, last frost Apr 16
- Fort Knox zone 7a, last frost Apr 19
- Shepherdsville zone 7a, last frost Apr 18
- Bardstown zone 7a, last frost Apr 13
- Valley Station zone 7a, last frost Mar 31
- Mount Washington zone 7a, last frost Apr 6
- Okolona zone 7a, last frost Apr 6
- Highview zone 7a, last frost Apr 6
Questions
What growing zone is Elizabethtown, KY?
Elizabethtown 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 Elizabethtown?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Elizabethtown is April 16. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 4.
When can I plant tomatoes in Elizabethtown?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 23 – Apr 30. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Elizabethtown Wp Cs, KY (USC00152512), 2.2 km (1.4 mi) from the city center, elevation 210 m, based on 17 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.