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

Planting zone for 40066 — Shelbyville, KY

ZIP code 40066 (Shelbyville, Shelby County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 40066 is

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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 1
First frostOct 10
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Shelbyville, 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 Shelbyville, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season161 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Shelbyville 1 E, KY — within 1 mile, elevation 732 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 40066

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 40066 came on Mar 7 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

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 6b in Kentucky

531 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kentucky, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 76

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 107

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 177

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 147

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 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Shelbyville, KY.

Soil in Shelbyville, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40066 is Nicholson — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nicholson silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes.

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 40066; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shelbyville, KY

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days34days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights139nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,491base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 30 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 21 °F 47°21° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 29 °F 57°29° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 38 °F 68°38° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 58 °F 85°58° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 62 °F 88°62° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 58 °F 87°58° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 40 °F 69°40° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 30 °F 57°30° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JanFebruary: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 FebMarch: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Shelbyville 1 E, KY (within 1 mile); precipitation: Shelbyville 1 E, KY (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

400656b
Shelbyville, KY · 1 mi
400226b
Finchville, KY · 8 mi
400676b
Simpsonville, KY · 9 mi
400766b
Waddy, KY · 9 mi
400036b
Bagdad, KY · 11 mi
400237a
Fisherville, KY · 12 mi
400466b
Mount Eden, KY · 12 mi
400196b
Eminence, KY · 12 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Shelbyville → · Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40066

What planting zone is ZIP code 40066?

ZIP code 40066 (Shelbyville, KY) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Shelbyville, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40066 is May 1; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shelbyville 1 E station.

When is the first frost in Shelbyville, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40066 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 161 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40066?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40066 get?

About 49.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shelbyville 1 E station).

How hot do summers get in Shelbyville, KY?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 34 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 40066 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nicholson at the center of ZIP 40066: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Shelbyville, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40066 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shelbyville, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40066 is 14 h 49 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 40066 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 40066 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.