Everyone
Where it's Spring
Last Freeze Dates
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Learn the typical date of the spring's last freeze so you can avoid the danger of setting out freeze- and frost-sensitive plants
too early. The date of the last freeze varies from year to year, of
course, but knowledge of typical freeze-free dates can help you reduce
the risk of planting too early.
In western Kentucky, the average date of the last freeze comes
relatively early; in Paducah, the median date of the last freeze is
April 8. In central Kentucky, the last freeze comes somewhat later; the
median last freeze in Lexington comes on April 18. In western Kentucky,
freezes tend to occur even later; the median last freeze date in Ashland
is May 4.
Soil Conditions and Temperatures
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You can plant cool-season crops in the spring as soon as the soil is workable, meaning the ground is no longer frozen and the soil can be tilled. The soil should also not be so wet that it forms clumps when it's tilled or compressed in your fist.
Early crops should also be planted when the air temperature is relatively cool -- between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, so the plants have time to develop before the heat of late spring and summer begins.
Cool-Season Crops
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Cool-season crops are not vulnerable to damage from frost, and they can be planted in Kentucky even before the danger of spring frosts has passed. Cool-season crops include broccoli (Brassica oleracea (Italica group)), cabbage (Brassica oleracea (Capitata group)), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and onions (Allium cepa).
On average, the earliest planting date for cabbage and lettuce is
March 15 in western Kentucky, March 25 in central Kentucky, April 1 in
eastern Kentucky. The earliest planting date for broccoli plants is
March 30 in the west, April 5 in the central part of the state, April 10
in the east. Onion sets can be planted as early as March 1 in the west,
March 10 in central Kentucky and March 15 in the east.
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