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

Planting zone for 40166 — Shepherdsville, KY

ZIP code 40166 (Shepherdsville, Bullitt County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 40166 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 18
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 Shepherdsville, 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 Shepherdsville, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Bernheim Forest, KY — 6 miles away, elevation 551 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 40166

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
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 18) 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 40166 came on Mar 3 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7).

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 Shepherdsville, KY.

Soil in Shepherdsville, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40166 is McGary — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: McGary silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, rarely flooded.

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 40166; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shepherdsville, KY

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights92nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,246base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation51.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 MarApril: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 AprMay: 5.54 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bernheim Forest, KY (6 mi away); precipitation: Fox Chase 1.4 W, KY (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

401657a
Shepherdsville, KY · 1 mi
401107a
Clermont, KY · 5 mi
401097a
Brooks, KY · 6 mi
401297a
Hillview, KY · 6 mi
402297a
Louisville, KY · 8 mi
401187a
Fairdale, KY · 8 mi
401507a
Lebanon Junction, KY · 8 mi
400477a
Mount Washington, KY · 9 mi

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

Questions about 40166

What planting zone is ZIP code 40166?

ZIP code 40166 (Shepherdsville, 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 Shepherdsville, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40166 is April 18; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bernheim Forest station.

When is the first frost in Shepherdsville, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40166 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 189 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40166?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 21 – Mar 7 and set transplants outside around Apr 25 – May 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40166 get?

About 51.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fox Chase 1.4 W station).

How hot do summers get in Shepherdsville, KY?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 37 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 40166 have?

The USDA soil survey maps McGary at the center of ZIP 40166: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Shepherdsville, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40166 came on Mar 3 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shepherdsville, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40166 is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 40166 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 40166 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.