Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Bowling Green

United States

In Bowling Green the last spring frost usually comes around 31 March and the first autumn frost around 10 November, which leaves about 224 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 11 April to 21 July.

Last spring frostaround 31 March
First autumn frostaround 10 November
Frost-free days224 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Bowling Green?

The last frost in Bowling Green usually comes around 31 March: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 10 March, while corn waits until 7 April. The first autumn frost follows around 10 November, about 224 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha5 February – 2 August17 March – 11 September7 April – 11 September
Ageratumfrom 24 January—from 11 April
Arugula——sow 10 March – 6 October
Basil6 March – 8 September13 April – 16 October4 May – 16 October
Beet——sow 10 March – 11 September
Bell Pepper12 February – 22 May13 April – 21 July4 May – 21 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 14 January—from 7 April
Bok Choy10 February – 19 September17 March – 24 October7 April – 24 October
Borage——sow 7 April – 16 September
Broad bean——sow 10 March – 2 August
Broccoli——sow 10 March – 26 July
Brussels Sprouts3 January – 23 June17 February – 7 August10 March – 7 August
Busy Lizziefrom 13 January—from 7 April
Cabbage——sow 10 March – 3 July
Calendula——sow from 10 March
Carrot——sow 10 March – 18 August
Cauliflower6 January – 26 July17 February – 6 September10 March – 6 September
Celeriac30 December – 23 May17 March – 8 August7 April – 8 August
Celery30 December – 2 June17 March – 18 August7 April – 18 August
Celosiafrom 14 Februaryfrom 31 Marchfrom 21 April
Chamomile——sow 10 March – 6 September
Chayote19 December – 16 May17 March – 12 August7 April – 12 August
Chickpea——sow 10 March – 23 July
Chicory23 January – 17 August—10 March – 11 September
Chili Pepper12 February – 28 June13 April – 27 August4 May – 27 August
China asterfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 Aprilfrom 4 May
Chives——sow 10 March – 28 August
Cilantro——sow 10 March – 7 September
Corn——sow 7 April – 23 July
Corn poppy——sow from 10 March
Cosmosfrom 14 Februaryfrom 31 Marchfrom 21 April
Cucumber16 March – 29 July13 April – 26 August4 May – 26 August
Daikon——sow 10 March – 4 September
Delphiniumfrom 20 December—from 10 March
Dill——sow 10 March – 17 September
Edging lobeliafrom 13 January—from 7 April
Eggplant12 February – 22 May13 April – 21 July4 May – 21 July
Florence fennel31 January – 2 August17 March – 16 September7 April – 16 September
Foxglovefrom 2 December—from 10 March
Garden sorrel——sow 10 March – 5 September
Green Beans——sow 21 April – 31 July
Hollyhock——sow from 10 March
Hyssop——sow 10 March – 29 July
Kale——sow 10 March – 30 August
Kiwano17 February – 5 August21 March – 6 September11 April – 6 September
Kohlrabi——sow 10 March – 9 September
Leek9 December – 14 May17 February – 23 July10 March – 23 July
Lemon balm——sow 10 March – 1 September
Lettuce——sow 10 March – 14 September
Lisianthusfrom 22 Novemberfrom 17 Februaryfrom 10 March
Lovage——sow from 10 March
Luffa2 March – 30 May13 April – 11 July4 May – 11 July
Marigoldfrom 3 Februaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Marjoram12 February – 17 August—4 May – 16 October
Melon16 March – 16 July13 April – 13 August4 May – 13 August
Microgreens——sow 21 April – 27 October
Moringa3 March – 22 August27 April – 16 October18 May – 16 October
Moss rosefrom 20 January—from 7 April
Mustard greens——sow 10 March – 26 September
Napa cabbage12 February – 27 August17 March – 29 September7 April – 29 September
Nasturtiumfrom 7 Februaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Okra2 March – 10 August13 April – 21 September4 May – 21 September
Oregano19 December – 7 August17 February – 6 October10 March – 6 October
Pansyfrom 23 Decemberfrom 17 Februaryfrom 10 March
Parsley——sow 10 March – 26 August
Parsnip——sow 10 March – 15 July
Peanut7 March – 6 July13 April – 12 August4 May – 12 August
Peas——sow 10 March – 28 August
Petuniafrom 9 Februaryfrom 13 Aprilfrom 4 May
Physalis4 February – 3 July21 March – 17 August11 April – 17 August
Pumpkin2 March – 4 June13 April – 16 July4 May – 16 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 17 December—from 10 March
Radish——sow 10 March – 11 October
Sage30 December – 3 August17 February – 21 September10 March – 21 September
Scarlet sagefrom 28 January—from 11 April
Snapdragonfrom 14 Decemberfrom 17 Februaryfrom 10 March
Soybean——sow 4 May – 22 August
Spinach——sow 10 March – 16 September
Stevia31 January – 24 June21 March – 12 August11 April – 12 August
Stock——sow from 10 March
Sunflower——sow from 21 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 10 March
Sweet Corn23 February – 17 August17 March – 8 September7 April – 8 September
Sweet peafrom 6 Januaryfrom 17 Februaryfrom 10 March
Sweet William——sow from 10 March
Swiss Chard——sow 10 March – 11 September
Thyme——sow 10 March – 23 July
Tomato28 January – 30 May21 March – 21 July11 April – 21 July
Turnip——sow 10 March – 13 September
Watercress——sow 10 March – 24 September
Watermelon16 March – 4 July13 April – 1 August4 May – 1 August
Zinniafrom 23 Marchfrom 27 Aprilfrom 18 May
Zucchini23 March – 3 August13 April – 24 August4 May – 24 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Bowling Green

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 35 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 11 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C10 January80 days earlier
10 °C24 February35 days earlier
15 °C11 April11 days later
18 °C4 May34 days later

Frost dates near Bowling Green

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Nashville (24 March) and latest in Frankfort (12 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Nashville96 km24 March14 November
Evansville148 km2 April10 November
Louisville153 km6 April11 November
Frankfort194 km12 April3 November
Lexington206 km10 April7 November

What to grow at home in winter in Bowling Green

Frosts in Bowling Green usually come from about 10 November to about 31 March. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Bowling Green by month

Average weather in Bowling Green over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (20.4–31.7 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30 °C), July (31.7 °C) and August (30.4 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-1.1 °C). About 1423 mm of rain falls in a year, on 137 days; February is the wettest month (157 mm) and October the driest (93 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January7.6-1.111611
February11.81.515712
March16.25.312612
April20.49.114313
May25.114.811713
June3019.113212
July31.721.612915
August30.420.410913
September28.117.51009
October22.111.7939
November14.85938
December10.51.810810

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 11 October
Crocus11 October – end of December
Daffodil11 October – end of December
Garlic11 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 11 October
Helleboreby 11 October
Hyacinth11 October – end of December
Lilyby 11 October
Ornamental onionby 11 October
Peonyby 11 October
Saffronby 11 October
Snowdropby 11 October
Tulip11 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 11 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).