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

Planting zone for 40311 — Carlisle, KY

ZIP code 40311 (Carlisle, Nicholas County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 40311 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 12
First frostOct 30
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Carlisle, 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 Carlisle, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season200 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Flemingsburg 2 N, KY — 16 miles away, elevation 942 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 40311

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 40311 came on Mar 8 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

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 Carlisle, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40311 is Eden — flaggy silty clay, well drained.

TextureFlaggy silty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Eden flaggy silty clay, 20 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 40311; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Carlisle, KY

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights100nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,735base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.9 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 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 JanFebruary: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 AprMay: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Flemingsburg 2 N, KY (16 mi away); precipitation: Cynthiana 8.3 Ene, KY (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

403506b
Moorefield, KY · 7 mi
403486b
Millersburg, KY · 8 mi
410396b
Ewing, KY · 9 mi
403746b
Sharpsburg, KY · 10 mi
410376b
Elizaville, KY · 11 mi
410646b
Mount Olivet, KY · 13 mi
403576b
North Middletown, KY · 14 mi
403616b
Paris, KY · 15 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40311

What planting zone is ZIP code 40311?

ZIP code 40311 (Carlisle, 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 Carlisle, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40311 is April 12; after May 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Flemingsburg 2 N station.

When is the first frost in Carlisle, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40311 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 200 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40311?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 15 – Mar 1 and set transplants outside around Apr 19 – May 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40311 get?

About 46.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cynthiana 8.3 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Carlisle, 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 40311 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Eden at the center of ZIP 40311: flaggy silty clay, well drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Carlisle, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40311 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Carlisle, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40311 is 14 h 50 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.