Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Somerset, KY

Somerset, KY is in USDA zone 7a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost October 30.

Somerset on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostApr 5
First frostOct 30
Growing season206 days

7a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Somerset, KY…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Somerset, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season206 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 25 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Somerset 2 N, KY, elevation 1,020 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Somerset

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 5) and first fall frost (Oct 30) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 42503 came on Mar 2 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 5).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 7a in Kentucky

547 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kentucky, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 109

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 181

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 153

autumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblister sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbluejoint5 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Somerset, KY.

Soil in Somerset, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 42503 is Caneyville — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Fredonia-Frederick rocky silty clay loams, 6 to 20 percent slopes, severely eroded (caneyville rocky, frederick).

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 42503; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Somerset, KY

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights94nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,444base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall11 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F 45°29° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 32 °F 50°32° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 69 °F 87°69° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 33 °F 49°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.60 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 4.6❄5 JanFebruary: 3.80 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 3.8❄3 FebMarch: 4.94 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 4.9❄1 MarApril: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 4.59 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 4.6❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Somerset 2 N, KY (6 mi away); precipitation: Somerset 2 Ne, KY (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Somerset

425017a
0 to 5 °F
425027a
0 to 5 °F
425037a
0 to 5 °F

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about Somerset

What planting zone is Somerset, KY?

Somerset, KY is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Somerset, KY?

The median last spring frost is April 5 and the median first fall frost is October 30 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Somerset 2 N station).

When can I plant a garden in Somerset, KY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 22 – Mar 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 12, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Somerset, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Somerset, KY get?

About 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 11 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).