Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 40012 — Chaplin, KY

ZIP code 40012 (Chaplin, Nelson County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 40012 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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

Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C

Last frostApr 23

First frostOct 16

2012 zone6b

Was 6b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Chaplin, 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 Chaplin, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 4

Growing season176 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Taylorsville Lake, KY — 10 miles away, elevation 699 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 40012

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26

SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16

LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16

TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12

TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21

BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 40012 came on Mar 6 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 11).

average
Mar 112026
Mar 6

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.

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 Chaplin, KY.

Soil in Chaplin, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40012 is Eden — silty clay, well drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up

pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter1%low — add compost

Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Eden silty clay, 12 to 30 percent slopes, severely eroded.

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 40012; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chaplin, KY

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July

Winter low22 °Faverage low, January

Hot days61days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days4,053base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 48 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 32 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully

Precipitation50.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Taylorsville Lake, KY (10 mi away); precipitation: Harrodsburg 10.8 Nw, KY (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

5 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

400787a

Willisburg, KY · 6 mi

400086b

Bloomfield, KY · 6 mi

400466b

Mount Eden, KY · 8 mi

400407a

Mackville, KY · 11 mi

400206b

Fairfield, KY · 12 mi

403426b

Lawrenceburg, KY · 13 mi

400697a

Springfield, KY · 13 mi

400766b

Waddy, KY · 15 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40012

What planting zone is ZIP code 40012?

ZIP code 40012 (Chaplin, KY) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Chaplin, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40012 is April 23; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Taylorsville Lake station.

When is the first frost in Chaplin, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40012 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 176 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40012?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 26 – Mar 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 30 – May 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40012 get?

About 50.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harrodsburg 10.8 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Chaplin, KY?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 61 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 40012 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Eden at the center of ZIP 40012: silty clay, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Chaplin, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40012 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Chaplin, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40012 is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 40012 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 40012 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.