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

Planting zone for 40588 — Lexington, KY

ZIP code 40588 (Lexington, Fayette County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost October 28.

Where ZIP 40588 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 13
First frostOct 28
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 Lexington, 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 Lexington, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 28median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season196 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Lexington Bluegrass Airport, KY — 7 miles away, elevation 981 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 40588

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 2 – Sep 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 14 – Nov 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 13) and first fall frost (Oct 28) 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 40588 came on Mar 6 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 Lexington, KY.

Soil in Lexington, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40588 is Anthroportic Udorthents — silt loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Anthroportic Udorthents-Bluegrass complex, 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 40588; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lexington, KY

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days25days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights90nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,093base 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
Precipitation49.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall15 inper year; 12 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 30 °F 46°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.42 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.4❄5 JanFebruary: 3.64 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.6❄5 FebMarch: 4.48 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 4.5❄3 MarApril: 4.42 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.4 AprMay: 5.44 in precipitation 5.4 MayJune: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 5.12 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.37 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.4 NovDecember: 4.20 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 4.2❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lexington Bluegrass Airport, KY (7 mi away); precipitation: Lexington Bluegrass Airport, KY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

405127a
Lexington, KY · <1 mi
405227a
Lexington, KY · <1 mi
405237a
Lexington, KY · <1 mi
405247a
Lexington, KY · <1 mi
405337a
Lexington, KY · <1 mi
405447a
Lexington, KY · <1 mi
405467a
Lexington, KY · <1 mi
405507a
Lexington, KY · <1 mi

All 37 ZIP codes in Lexington → · Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40588

What planting zone is ZIP code 40588?

ZIP code 40588 (Lexington, 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 Lexington, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40588 is April 13; after May 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lexington Bluegrass Airport station.

When is the first frost in Lexington, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40588 is October 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 196 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40588?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 16 – Mar 2 and set transplants outside around Apr 20 – May 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40588 get?

About 49.8 inches of precipitation a year and 15 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lexington Bluegrass Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Lexington, KY?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 25 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 40588 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Anthroportic Udorthents at the center of ZIP 40588: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Lexington, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40588 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lexington, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40588 is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 40588 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 40588 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.