What to plant this week in Louisville, KY
In Louisville, the mid-April window is tight but promising as you race against the average last frost date of April 3rd. While late snow or a hard freeze isn't impossible, many warm-season crops like cucumbers and okra are ready to go now that temperatures are creeping past the 50°F threshold.
The next 7 days
Louisville, KYGrowing in Louisville right now
- Watch for late spring frosts in our limestone-heavy soil pockets; cover seedlings if temps drop near zero before April 3rd.
- Our clay-loam soils benefit from heavy mulching with straw to retain moisture during Louisville's erratic April rain showers.
- Start indoor seeds of bush beans and pole beans immediately, as the ground is too cold for direct sowing despite the list allowing it in sheltered spots.
Sow this week
18 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
49 crops- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession planting bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout summer.
- Apply a light layer of compost around heavy feeders like okra and squash to boost nutrient availability.
- Pinch back the tips of young zinnias and marigolds to encourage branching and fuller blooms.
Pest & disease watch
- Slugs and snails thrive in our humid spring weather; place beer traps around your newly planted zinnias and nasturtiums.
- Watch for early aphid colonies on the tender leaves of transplanted basil and sweet potato vines.
- Monitor squash vine borers as cucumber, pumpkin, and yellow summer squash plants begin to unfurl their large leaves.
Watering this week
Provide deep watering every 2-3 days to keep soil consistently moist but not soggy during this active growth phase.
Harvest your basil frequently by snipping off flower buds now to prevent seeding, which ensures continued leaf production and stronger flavor.
Louisville gardening questions
3Can I plant my okra seeds directly in the ground now?
Yes, since Louisville's average last frost is April 3rd, warm-season heat lovers like okra and bush beans can be sown outdoors this week.
Is it safe to transplant my tomato seedlings yet?
Not yet; while the weather feels mild, you should wait until after April 3rd when the threat of a hard freeze near 0°F has truly passed.
How do I protect my garlic from freezing before harvest in late spring?
Your garlic is listed for harvest soon, so ensure you are lifting bulbs gently to avoid damaging them if a sudden cold snap occurs after mid-April.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Louisville garden in SproutGuide →