When to plant potatoes in Louisville, Kentucky

February 17 – March 3

Direct-sow outdoors · typical Louisville year

Climate basis: NOAA station Louisville Mcalpine, KY (USC00154955), 3 mi (4 km) from downtown Louisville (ZCTA 40202 centroid), elevation 440 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Plant seed potatoes from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (March 31). One year in ten still freezes after April 14.

Last spring freezeMarch 311-in-10 after Apr 14

First fall freezeNovember 91-in-10 before Oct 31

Frost-free season≈ 225 daysmedian at 32°F

Hard freeze, 28°Mar 18 – Nov 20kills even hardy greens

USDA zone7a0 to 5°F winter low — not frost timing

The Louisville year

Direct-sow outdoorsFeb 17 – Mar 3

indoors under lights
in the garden
frost-free season
1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 14

Potatoes in Louisville · freeze context from Louisville Mcalpine, KY, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Direct-sow outdoors

Feb 17 – Mar 3

Purdue: hardy — plant seed pieces 4–6 weeks before the last spring frost. Minnesota adds the practical caveat: plant as soon as the soil warms. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Mar 31). Purdue University Extension · University of Minnesota Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

Potatoes are grown from seed pieces, not indoor-started seedlings.

Transplant outdoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an outdoor transplanting window for this crop.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: Assumes a mid-season variety (about 90–110 days from planting).

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:

Crop rule sources (2)

Purdue University Extension: Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar (HO-186-W) (accessed 2026-07-24)
Hardiness classes: hardy = plant 4-6 wk before last spring frost; semi-hardy = 2-4 wk before; tender = after average last frost; very tender = at least 2 wk after. Table 2: fall planting at least 4-8 wk before first fall frost.
University of Minnesota Extension: Growing potatoes (accessed 2026-07-24)
"Plant seed pieces as soon as the soil warms" — soil-temperature caveat to the frost-relative rule.

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