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Last and first frost dates in Frankfort

United States

In Frankfort the last spring frost usually comes around 12 April and the first autumn frost around 3 November, which leaves about 205 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 22 April to 14 July.

Last spring frostaround 12 April
First autumn frostaround 3 November
Frost-free days205 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 Frankfort?

The last frost in Frankfort usually comes around 12 April: 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 22 March, while corn waits until 19 April. The first autumn frost follows around 3 November, about 205 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha17 February – 26 July29 March – 4 September19 April – 4 September
Ageratumfrom 4 February—from 22 April
Arugula——sow 22 March – 29 September
Basil15 March – 1 September22 April – 9 October13 May – 9 October
Beet——sow 22 March – 4 September
Bell Pepper21 February – 15 May22 April – 14 July13 May – 14 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 26 January—from 19 April
Bok Choy22 February – 12 September29 March – 17 October19 April – 17 October
Borage——sow 19 April – 9 September
Broad bean——sow 22 March – 26 July
Broccoli——sow 22 March – 19 July
Brussels Sprouts15 January – 16 June1 March – 31 July22 March – 31 July
Busy Lizziefrom 25 January—from 19 April
Cabbage——sow 22 March – 26 June
Calendula——sow from 22 March
Carrot——sow 22 March – 11 August
Cauliflower18 January – 19 July1 March – 30 August22 March – 30 August
Celeriac11 January – 16 May29 March – 1 August19 April – 1 August
Celery11 January – 26 May29 March – 11 August19 April – 11 August
Celosiafrom 26 Februaryfrom 12 Aprilfrom 3 May
Chamomile——sow 22 March – 30 August
Chayote31 December – 9 May29 March – 5 August19 April – 5 August
Chickpea——sow 22 March – 16 July
Chicory4 February – 10 August—22 March – 4 September
Chili Pepper21 February – 21 June22 April – 20 August13 May – 20 August
China asterfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 Aprilfrom 13 May
Chives——sow 22 March – 21 August
Cilantro——sow 22 March – 31 August
Corn——sow 19 April – 16 July
Corn poppy——sow from 22 March
Cosmosfrom 26 Februaryfrom 12 Aprilfrom 3 May
Cucumber25 March – 22 July22 April – 19 August13 May – 19 August
Daikon——sow 22 March – 28 August
Delphiniumfrom 1 January—from 22 March
Dill——sow 22 March – 10 September
Edging lobeliafrom 25 January—from 19 April
Eggplant21 February – 15 May22 April – 14 July13 May – 14 July
Florence fennel12 February – 26 July29 March – 9 September19 April – 9 September
Foxglovefrom 14 December—from 22 March
Garden sorrel——sow 22 March – 29 August
Green Beans——sow 3 May – 24 July
Hollyhock——sow from 22 March
Hyssop——sow 22 March – 22 July
Kale——sow 22 March – 23 August
Kiwano28 February – 29 July1 April – 30 August22 April – 30 August
Kohlrabi——sow 22 March – 2 September
Leek21 December – 7 May1 March – 16 July22 March – 16 July
Lemon balm——sow 22 March – 25 August
Lettuce——sow 22 March – 7 September
Lisianthusfrom 4 Decemberfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Lovage——sow from 22 March
Luffa11 March – 23 May22 April – 4 July13 May – 4 July
Marigoldfrom 15 Februaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Marjoram21 February – 10 August—13 May – 9 October
Melon25 March – 9 July22 April – 6 August13 May – 6 August
Microgreens——sow 3 May – 20 October
Moringa10 March – 15 August4 May – 9 October25 May – 9 October
Moss rosefrom 1 February—from 19 April
Mustard greens——sow 22 March – 19 September
Napa cabbage24 February – 20 August29 March – 22 September19 April – 22 September
Nasturtiumfrom 19 Februaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Okra11 March – 3 August22 April – 14 September13 May – 14 September
Oregano31 December – 31 July1 March – 29 September22 March – 29 September
Pansyfrom 4 Januaryfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Parsley——sow 22 March – 19 August
Parsnip——sow 22 March – 8 July
Peanut16 March – 29 June22 April – 5 August13 May – 5 August
Peas——sow 22 March – 21 August
Petuniafrom 18 Februaryfrom 22 Aprilfrom 13 May
Physalis15 February – 26 June1 April – 10 August22 April – 10 August
Pumpkin11 March – 28 May22 April – 9 July13 May – 9 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 29 December—from 22 March
Radish——sow 22 March – 4 October
Sage11 January – 27 July1 March – 14 September22 March – 14 September
Scarlet sagefrom 8 February—from 22 April
Snapdragonfrom 26 Decemberfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Soybean——sow 13 May – 15 August
Spinach——sow 22 March – 9 September
Stevia11 February – 17 June1 April – 5 August22 April – 5 August
Stock——sow from 22 March
Sunflower——sow from 3 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 22 March
Sweet Corn7 March – 10 August29 March – 1 September19 April – 1 September
Sweet peafrom 18 Januaryfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Sweet William——sow from 22 March
Swiss Chard——sow 22 March – 4 September
Thyme——sow 22 March – 16 July
Tomato8 February – 23 May1 April – 14 July22 April – 14 July
Turnip——sow 22 March – 6 September
Watercress——sow 22 March – 17 September
Watermelon25 March – 27 June22 April – 25 July13 May – 25 July
Zinniafrom 30 Marchfrom 4 Mayfrom 25 May
Zucchini1 April – 27 July22 April – 17 August13 May – 17 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 Frankfort

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 32 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 10 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C6 February65 days earlier
10 °C11 March32 days earlier
15 °C22 April10 days later
18 °C13 May31 days later

Frost dates near Frankfort

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Bowling Green (31 March) and latest in Dayton (17 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Lexington41 km10 April7 November
Louisville78 km6 April11 November
Cincinnati108 km11 April9 November
Dayton183 km17 April9 November
Bowling Green194 km31 March10 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Frankfort

Within 15 km of Frankfort OpenStreetMap lists 1 plant nursery, 2 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest market to the city centre is Franklin County Farmers Market Shelter, 0 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Frankfort

Frosts in Frankfort usually come from about 3 November to about 12 April. 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 Frankfort by month

Average weather in Frankfort over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–October (20.9–30.3 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (30.3 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-2.8 °C) and February (-0.3 °C). About 1282 mm of rain falls in a year, on 139 days; April is the wettest month (134 mm) and September the driest (81 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January5.9-2.810212
February10.1-0.312812
March14.53.311512
April18.97.513413
May23.813.212215
June28.617.611113
July30.320.112914
August29.4198912
September27.216.2818
October20.910.3889
November13.23.5859
December8.809810

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 4 October
Crocus4 October – end of December
Daffodil4 October – end of December
Garlic4 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 4 October
Helleboreby 4 October
Hyacinth4 October – end of December
Lilyby 4 October
Ornamental onionby 4 October
Peonyby 4 October
Saffronby 4 October
Snowdropby 4 October
Tulip4 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 4 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).