What to plant this week in Louisville, KY
As Louisville braces for the chill of mid-January, your focus shifts entirely to cold-hardy tasks while most outdoor beds remain dormant. The average last frost date isn't until April 3rd, meaning you must wait patiently before planning those spring transplants.
The next 7 days
Louisville, KYGrowing in Louisville right now
- Take advantage of the mild winter days by planting garlic cloves now for a robust summer harvest in our loamy, often clay-heavy soils.
- Protect young perennials and tender annuals from occasional hard freezes with heavy row covers, especially since temperatures can dip to 0°F briefly.
- Use this dry period to mulch garden beds heavily; Louisville's unpredictable spring rains wash away loose soil and nutrients easily if not anchored now.
Sow this week
1 crops- Garlic
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Garlic
Seasonal tips
- Plant garlic cloves now to ensure a strong spring harvest next year.
- Apply winter mulch around perennials once the soil has frozen solid to protect roots from heaving.
- Divide biennial plants like sweet Williams if they have finished flowering this season.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for winter weevils hiding in mulch or under bark near oak trees, which are prevalent in our region and will emerge as soon as the soil warms.
- Monitor overwintering aphids on rose bushes and ornamental shrubs that can cause rapid spring outbreaks once growth resumes.
Watering this week
Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between sessions to prevent root rot in cool, damp conditions.
Mark your sown garlic spots clearly now so you won't forget where they are when digging for spring onions later!
Louisville gardening questions
3What should I do with my garlic crop right now?
Since it is time to sow, push your garlic cloves into a south-facing bed today to take advantage of the current soil temperature. You will harvest this Daikon Radish and Garlic soon in late spring once the risk of frost has completely passed.
Can I start tomatoes or peppers indoors now?
While you can't transplant them outdoors until April 3rd, starting seeds for warm-season crops inside is an excellent use of this dry winter week. Keep the heat on with a grow light to ensure they are ready for our rapid spring warming.
How does Louisville's clay soil affect my planting schedule?
Our local soils can stay frozen or become hard-packed during January cold snaps, making it impossible to dig deep beds until early February. Wait until the ground softens significantly before attempting any major bed preparation for your upcoming garlic harvest.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Louisville garden in SproutGuide →