USDA hardiness zones in Kentucky
| Zone | Avg. extreme minimum | ZIP codes | Example cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6b | −5 to 0°F | 159 | Covington, Georgetown, Florence, Independence |
| Zone 7a | 0 to 5°F | 584 | Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro |
| Zone 7b | 5 to 10°F | 18 | Murray, Mayfield |
Growing zone and frost dates by city
| City | Zone | Frost dates |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Louisville frost dates |
| Lexington | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Lexington frost dates |
| Bowling Green | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Bowling Green frost dates |
| Owensboro | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Owensboro frost dates |
| Covington | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Covington frost dates |
| Georgetown | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Georgetown frost dates |
| Richmond | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Richmond frost dates |
| Elizabethtown | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Elizabethtown frost dates |
| Florence | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Florence frost dates |
| Nicholasville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Nicholasville frost dates |
| Hopkinsville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Hopkinsville frost dates |
| Independence | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Independence frost dates |
| Jeffersontown | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Jeffersontown frost dates |
| Frankfort | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Frankfort frost dates |
| Henderson | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Henderson frost dates |
| Paducah | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Paducah frost dates |
| Radcliff | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Radcliff frost dates |
| Ashland | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Ashland frost dates |
| Erlanger | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Erlanger frost dates |
| Winchester | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Winchester frost dates |
| Madisonville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Madisonville frost dates |
| Mount Washington | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Mount Washington frost dates |
| Murray | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Murray frost dates |
| Shelbyville | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Shelbyville frost dates |
| St. Matthews | 7a (0 to 5°F) | St. Matthews frost dates |
| Danville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Danville frost dates |
| Fort Thomas | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Fort Thomas frost dates |
| Berea | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Berea frost dates |
| Shively | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Shively frost dates |
| Glasgow | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Glasgow frost dates |
| Shepherdsville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Shepherdsville frost dates |
| Bardstown | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Bardstown frost dates |
| Newport | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Newport frost dates |
| Somerset | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Somerset frost dates |
| Lawrenceburg | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Lawrenceburg frost dates |
| Campbellsville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Campbellsville frost dates |
| Lyndon | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Lyndon frost dates |
| Alexandria | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Alexandria frost dates |
| Franklin | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Franklin frost dates |
| Versailles | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Versailles frost dates |
| La Grange | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | La Grange frost dates |
| Paris | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Paris frost dates |
| Middletown | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Middletown frost dates |
| Mayfield | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Mayfield frost dates |
| Harrodsburg | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Harrodsburg frost dates |
| Elsmere | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Elsmere frost dates |
| Hillview | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Hillview frost dates |
| Middlesborough | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Middlesborough frost dates |
| Fort Mitchell | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Fort Mitchell frost dates |
| Maysville | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Maysville frost dates |
| Edgewood | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Edgewood frost dates |
| Union | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Union frost dates |
| Corbin | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Corbin frost dates |
| Oak Grove | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Oak Grove frost dates |
| Villa Hills | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Villa Hills frost dates |
| London | 7a (0 to 5°F) | London frost dates |
| Mount Sterling | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Mount Sterling frost dates |
| Russellville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Russellville frost dates |
| Flatwoods | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Flatwoods frost dates |
| Pikeville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Pikeville frost dates |
| Taylor Mill | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Taylor Mill frost dates |
| Vine Grove | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Vine Grove frost dates |
| Leitchfield | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Leitchfield frost dates |
| Morehead | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Morehead frost dates |
| Lebanon | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Lebanon frost dates |
| Cold Spring | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Cold Spring frost dates |
| Crestwood | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Crestwood frost dates |
| Cynthiana | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Cynthiana frost dates |
| Wilmore | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Wilmore frost dates |
| Highland Heights | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Highland Heights frost dates |
| Fort Wright | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Fort Wright frost dates |
| Princeton | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Princeton frost dates |
| Dayton | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Dayton frost dates |
| Walton | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Walton frost dates |
| Bellevue | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Bellevue frost dates |
| Central City | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Central City frost dates |
| Monticello | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Monticello frost dates |
| Douglass Hills | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Douglass Hills frost dates |
| Williamsburg | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Williamsburg frost dates |
Frequently asked questions
What growing zone is Kentucky in?
Kentucky’s ZIP codes span USDA zones 6b to 7b, and 7a is the most common. Zones vary with elevation and distance from water, so check your own ZIP code.
When should I plant?
Hardiness zones are about winter cold, not planting dates. For timing, use the last spring frost date for your city on our Kentucky frost dates page.