When to plant in Hodgenville, KY
Planting dates worked out from Hodgenville's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 59 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalApr 16about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outApr 291 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlyOct 81 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 22about half of years have had frost
- LateNov 29 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 190 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Hodgenville Lincoln P · 4.7 km away · station 240 m, town 222 m. How we match towns to stations
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jun 23 |
| Sweet pepper | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jun 28 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 28 |
| Peas | — | Mar 5 – Apr 2 | Apr 29 |
| Bush beans | — | Apr 22 – May 13 | Jun 11 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 26 – May 7 | May 25 |
| Beet | — | Mar 19 – Apr 30 | May 8 |
| Potato | — | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | Jun 4 |
| Kale | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 1 |
| Broccoli | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Mar 19 – Apr 9 | May 18 |
| Cucumber | Apr 1 – Apr 8 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jun 18 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 1 – Apr 8 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jun 13 |
| Winter squash | Apr 1 – Apr 8 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jul 18 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 22 – May 13 | Jun 21 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Mar 19 – Apr 9 | Jun 17 |
| Garlic | — | Oct 8 – Nov 5 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 5 – Apr 2 | Apr 12 |
| Basil | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jun 25 |
Hodgenville's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1967 | Mar 22 |
| 1968 | May 6 |
| 1970 | Apr 7 |
| 1971 | May 4 |
| 1972 | Apr 26 |
| 1973 | Apr 14 |
| 1974 | Apr 25 |
| 1975 | Apr 16 |
| 1976 | May 4 |
| 1977 | Apr 9 |
| 1978 | May 2 |
| 1979 | Apr 29 |
| 1980 | Apr 17 |
| 1981 | Apr 6 |
| 1982 | Apr 10 |
| 1983 | Apr 25 |
| 1984 | Apr 7 |
| 1985 | Apr 10 |
| 1986 | Apr 23 |
| 1987 | Apr 4 |
| 1988 | Apr 20 |
| 1991 | Mar 31 |
| 1992 | Apr 5 |
| 1993 | Apr 22 |
| 1994 | Apr 8 |
| 1995 | Apr 5 |
| 1996 | Apr 27 |
| 1997 | May 16 |
| 1998 | Apr 18 |
| 1999 | Apr 13 |
| 2000 | Apr 9 |
| 2001 | Apr 18 |
| 2002 | Apr 7 |
| 2003 | Apr 23 |
| 2004 | Apr 14 |
| 2005 | May 3 |
| 2009 | Apr 9 |
| 2013 | Apr 26 |
| 2015 | Apr 6 |
| 2017 | Apr 9 |
| 2018 | Apr 29 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1967 | 202 |
| 1968 | 150 |
| 1970 | 192 |
| 1971 | 183 |
| 1972 | 176 |
| 1973 | 185 |
| 1974 | 160 |
| 1975 | 211 |
| 1976 | 166 |
| 1977 | 185 |
| 1978 | 158 |
| 1979 | 167 |
| 1980 | 170 |
| 1981 | 179 |
| 1982 | 193 |
| 1983 | 193 |
| 1984 | 209 |
| 1985 | 211 |
| 1986 | 174 |
| 1987 | 182 |
| 1988 | 174 |
| 1991 | 198 |
| 1992 | 196 |
| 1994 | 200 |
| 1995 | 212 |
| 1996 | 174 |
| 1997 | 158 |
| 1998 | 187 |
| 1999 | 189 |
| 2000 | 181 |
| 2001 | 171 |
| 2002 | 208 |
| 2003 | 162 |
| 2004 | 208 |
| 2005 | 173 |
| 2009 | 191 |
| 2017 | 203 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1967 | 19.6 °C |
| 1968 | 20.6 °C |
| 1970 | 21.7 °C |
| 1971 | 20.5 °C |
| 1972 | 21.0 °C |
| 1973 | 20.8 °C |
| 1974 | 19.9 °C |
| 1975 | 20.8 °C |
| 1976 | 19.6 °C |
| 1977 | 22.0 °C |
| 1978 | 21.3 °C |
| 1979 | 20.2 °C |
| 1980 | 21.4 °C |
| 1981 | 21.0 °C |
| 1982 | 20.1 °C |
| 1983 | 21.3 °C |
| 1984 | 20.3 °C |
| 1985 | 21.1 °C |
| 1986 | 21.9 °C |
| 1987 | 21.5 °C |
| 1988 | 20.8 °C |
| 1990 | 20.2 °C |
| 1991 | 21.8 °C |
| 1992 | 19.6 °C |
| 1994 | 19.7 °C |
| 1995 | 20.7 °C |
| 1996 | 20.2 °C |
| 1997 | 19.1 °C |
| 1998 | 21.7 °C |
| 1999 | 21.2 °C |
| 2000 | 20.5 °C |
| 2001 | 21.1 °C |
| 2002 | 21.5 °C |
| 2003 | 20.1 °C |
| 2004 | 20.3 °C |
| 2005 | 21.2 °C |
| 2009 | 20.4 °C |
| 2013 | 20.6 °C |
| 2014 | 20.5 °C |
| 2017 | 20.6 °C |
| 2018 | 21.5 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1967, Hodgenville's last spring frost has stayed at about the same time of year. The frost-free season has grown by about 3 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Hodgenville Lincoln P (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.