California, KY 41007 Frost Dates
When can you plant in California, KY?
Typically, the last spring freeze lands around 04/16, roughly 231 days out. The first fall frost typically arrives around 10/31, about 196 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts California in Zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 9 weeks of growing season left in California before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
How much risk comes with planting early here
04/16 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 04/02 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 05/04 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How California compares
California's growing season runs about 196 days, ranking 19,123 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within KY, it ranks 390 of 909.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 6b and California's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around California's dates instead of trusting one.