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

Planting zone for 40215 — Louisville, KY

ZIP code 40215 (Louisville, Jefferson County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost November 7.

Where ZIP 40215 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 frostMar 31
First frostNov 7
2012 zone7a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Louisville, 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 Louisville, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 28
Growing season222 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 20 and returns around November 17.

From the NOAA station Louisville Intl Airport, KY — 2 miles away, elevation 489 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 40215

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 7) 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 40215 came on Mar 3 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (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.

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 Louisville, KY.

Soil in Louisville, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40215 is Alfic Udarents — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Alfic Udarents complex, fragipan substratum-over loamy sediment, 0 to 12 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 40215; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Louisville, KY

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days43days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights74nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,759base 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
Precipitation48.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall13 inper year; 11 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 31 °F 48°31° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 70 °F 88°70° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 32 °F 47°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.39 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.4❄5 JanFebruary: 3.41 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 3.4❄4 FebMarch: 4.60 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 4.6❄2 MarApril: 4.80 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.8 AprMay: 5.18 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.72 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.7 OctNovember: 3.42 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.4 NovDecember: 4.13 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 4.1❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Louisville Intl Airport, KY (2 mi away); precipitation: Louisville Intl Airport, KY (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

402217a
Louisville, KY · 2 mi
402087a
Louisville, KY · 2 mi
402097a
Louisville, KY · 3 mi
402107a
Louisville, KY · 3 mi
402167a
Louisville, KY · 3 mi
402147a
Louisville, KY · 3 mi
402177a
Louisville, KY · 3 mi
402117a
Louisville, KY · 4 mi

All 65 ZIP codes in Louisville → · Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40215

What planting zone is ZIP code 40215?

ZIP code 40215 (Louisville, 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 Louisville, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40215 is March 31; after April 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Louisville Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Louisville, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40215 is November 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 222 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40215?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 3 – Feb 17 and set transplants outside around Apr 7 – Apr 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40215 get?

About 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 13 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Louisville Intl Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Louisville, KY?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 43 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 40215 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Alfic Udarents at the center of ZIP 40215: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Louisville, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40215 came on Mar 3 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Louisville, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40215 is 14 h 49 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.