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

Planting zone for 40962 — Manchester, KY

ZIP code 40962 (Manchester, Clay County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 40962 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 29
First frostOct 16
2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — a full 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 Manchester, 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 Manchester, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season170 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Manchester 4 W, KY — 6 miles away, elevation 869 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 40962

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 40962 came on Mar 2 — 8 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 Manchester, KY.

Soil in Manchester, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 40962 is Shelocta — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Shelocta-Kimper-Cloverlick complex, 20 to 80 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 40962; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Manchester, KY

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days25days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights113nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,698base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation51.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall9 inper year; 5 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 46 °F, low 22 °F 46°22° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 25 °F 51°25° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 33 °F 60°33° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 39 °F 71°39° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 58 °F 84°58° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 61 °F 87°61° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 41 °F 71°41° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 31 °F 60°31° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 25 °F 51°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.93 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.9❄2 JanFebruary: 4.05 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 4.0❄3 FebMarch: 4.56 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 4.6❄1 MarApril: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 5.37 in precipitation 5.4 MayJune: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 5.55 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 3.57 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.6 NovDecember: 4.82 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 4.8❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Manchester 4 W, KY (6 mi away); precipitation: Oneida, KY (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

409416b
Garrard, KY · 3 mi
409516b
Hima, KY · 5 mi
409447a
Goose Rock, KY · 5 mi
409326b
Fall Rock, KY · 6 mi
409727a
Oneida, KY · 9 mi
409147a
Big Creek, KY · 9 mi
407247a
Bush, KY · 10 mi
417147a
Bear Branch, KY · 12 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 40962

What planting zone is ZIP code 40962?

ZIP code 40962 (Manchester, 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 Manchester, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 40962 is April 29; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Manchester 4 W station.

When is the first frost in Manchester, KY?

The median first fall frost near 40962 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 170 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 40962?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 40962 get?

About 51.5 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oneida station).

How hot do summers get in Manchester, 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 40962 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Shelocta at the center of ZIP 40962: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Manchester, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 40962 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Manchester, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 40962 is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 40962 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 40962 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.