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

Planting zone for 40374 — Sharpsburg, KY

ZIP code 40374 (Sharpsburg, Bath County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 40374 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 24

First frostOct 18

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 Sharpsburg, 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 Sharpsburg, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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

Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 6

Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Mt Sterling, KY — 11 miles away, elevation 961 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 40374

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27

SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17

LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17

TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13

TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22

BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15

Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 40374 came on Mar 7 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13).

average
Mar 132026
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 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.

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 Sharpsburg, KY.

Soil in Sharpsburg, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40374 is Cynthiana — flaggy silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureFlaggy silty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up

pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter2.5%moderate

Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cynthiana-Faywood complex, rocky, 20 to 40 percent slopes, 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 40374; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sharpsburg, KY

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July

Winter low22 °Faverage low, January

Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights116nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days3,553base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 50 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

Precipitation48.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall9 inper year; 7 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: Mt Sterling, KY (11 mi away); precipitation: Mt Sterling, KY (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

403506b

Moorefield, KY · 6 mi

403606b

Owingsville, KY · 8 mi

403116b

Carlisle, KY · 10 mi

403536b

Mount Sterling, KY · 11 mi

403576b

North Middletown, KY · 12 mi

410816b

Plummers Landing, KY · 14 mi

410396b

Ewing, KY · 14 mi

410496b

Hillsboro, KY · 14 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40374

What planting zone is ZIP code 40374?

ZIP code 40374 (Sharpsburg, 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 Sharpsburg, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40374 is April 24; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Sterling station.

When is the first frost in Sharpsburg, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40374 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40374?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40374 get?

About 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Sterling station).

How hot do summers get in Sharpsburg, KY?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 28 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 40374 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cynthiana at the center of ZIP 40374: flaggy silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Sharpsburg, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40374 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sharpsburg, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40374 is 14 h 50 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.