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

Planting zone for 40162 — Rineyville, KY

ZIP code 40162 (Rineyville, Hardin County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 40162 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 16

First frostOct 25

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 Rineyville, 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 Rineyville, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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

Last spring frostApril 16median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMay 4only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 13

Growing season191 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Elizabethtown Wp Cs, KY — 10 miles away, elevation 689 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 40162

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19

SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 26

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9

LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9

TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5

TomatoesTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14

BeansSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 16) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 40162 came on Mar 2 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

average
Mar 102026
Mar 2

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).

Soil in Rineyville, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40162 is Crider — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables

pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter2%moderate

Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately

Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Crider 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 40162; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rineyville, KY

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July

Winter low24 °Faverage low, January

Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights98nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days3,868base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 47 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 33 mindaylight on December 21

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

Precipitation54.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall5 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elizabethtown Wp Cs, KY (10 mi away); precipitation: Elizabethtown Wp Cs, KY (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

Vine Grove, KY · 6 mi

Elizabethtown, KY · 11 mi

401227a

Fort Knox, KY · 11 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40162

What planting zone is ZIP code 40162?

ZIP code 40162 (Rineyville, 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 Rineyville, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40162 is April 16; after May 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elizabethtown Wp Cs station.

When is the first frost in Rineyville, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40162 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 191 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40162?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 19 – Mar 5 and set transplants outside around Apr 23 – May 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40162 get?

About 54.4 inches of precipitation a year and 5 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elizabethtown Wp Cs station).

How hot do summers get in Rineyville, KY?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 21 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 40162 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Crider at the center of ZIP 40162: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Rineyville, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40162 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rineyville, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40162 is 14 h 47 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 40162 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 40162 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.