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

Planting zone for 40843 — Holmes Mill, KY

ZIP code 40843 (Holmes Mill, Harlan County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 40843 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 20
First frostOct 23
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Holmes Mill, 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 Holmes Mill, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season186 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Big Stone Gap, VA — 7 miles away, elevation 1,467 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 40843

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 40843 came on Mar 8 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13).

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.

Trees 76

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 107

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 177

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 147

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 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Holmes Mill, KY.

Soil in Holmes Mill, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40843 is Highsplint — very channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureVery channery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.75%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Highsplint-Cloverlick-Guyandotte complex, 35 to 75 percent slopes, very stony.

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 40843; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Holmes Mill, KY

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights108nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,474base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 38 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation60.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall35 inper year; 12 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 24 °F 44°24° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 41 °F 67°41° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 32 °F 57°32° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 5.08 in precipitation, 9.3 in snowfall 5.1❄9 JanFebruary: 4.80 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 4.8❄8 FebMarch: 5.90 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 5.9❄7 MarApril: 5.65 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 5.7❄2 AprMay: 5.75 in precipitation 5.8 MayJune: 5.59 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 5.53 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.32 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.3 OctNovember: 4.16 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.2❄1 NovDecember: 6.02 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 6.0❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Big Stone Gap, VA (7 mi away); precipitation: Closplint 4 Ese, KY (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

7 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

408556b
Lynch, KY · 4 mi
242657a
Keokee, VA · 4 mi
409277a
Closplint, KY · 5 mi
408237a
Cumberland, KY · 6 mi
242437a
Dryden, VA · 8 mi
242157a
Andover, VA · 8 mi
242827a
Saint Charles, VA · 9 mi
242167a
Appalachia, VA · 9 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40843

What planting zone is ZIP code 40843?

ZIP code 40843 (Holmes Mill, 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 Holmes Mill, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40843 is April 20; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Big Stone Gap station.

When is the first frost in Holmes Mill, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40843 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 186 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40843?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 23 – Mar 9 and set transplants outside around Apr 27 – May 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40843 get?

About 60.5 inches of precipitation a year and 35 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Closplint 4 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Holmes Mill, KY?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 40843 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Highsplint at the center of ZIP 40843: very channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Holmes Mill, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40843 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Holmes Mill, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40843 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 40843 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 40843 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.