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

Planting zone for 40849 — Lejunior, KY

ZIP code 40849 (Lejunior, Harlan County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 40849 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 frostApr 15
First frostOct 30
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 Lejunior, 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 Lejunior, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season197 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Baxter, KY — 11 miles away, elevation 1,165 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 40849

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
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 15) 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 40849 came on Mar 6 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 11).

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 Lejunior, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40849 is Pope — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pope fine sandy loam, occasionally flooded.

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 40849; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lejunior, KY

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights101nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,806base 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

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° 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: Baxter, KY (11 mi away); precipitation: Closplint 4 Ese, KY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

408287a
Evarts, KY · 2 mi
408707a
Totz, KY · 3 mi
408657a
Putney, KY · 4 mi
418197a
Gordon, KY · 6 mi
409277a
Closplint, KY · 7 mi
408207a
Cranks, KY · 7 mi
242827a
Saint Charles, VA · 7 mi
408017a
Ages Brookside, KY · 7 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40849

What planting zone is ZIP code 40849?

ZIP code 40849 (Lejunior, 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 Lejunior, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40849 is April 15; after May 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Baxter station.

When is the first frost in Lejunior, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40849 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 197 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40849?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 18 – Mar 4 and set transplants outside around Apr 22 – May 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40849 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 Lejunior, KY?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 40849 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pope at the center of ZIP 40849: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Lejunior, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40849 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lejunior, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40849 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 40849 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 40849 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.