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

Planting zone for 41016 — Covington, KY

ZIP code 41016 (Covington, Kenton County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost October 26.

Where ZIP 41016 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 17
First frostOct 26
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 Covington, 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 Covington, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season191 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Cheviot, OH — 6 miles away, elevation 892 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 41016

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 1 – May 15
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 17) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 41016 came on Mar 10 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17).

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 Covington, KY.

Soil in Covington, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 41016 is Lakin — loamy fine sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lakin loamy fine sand, 2 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 41016; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Covington, KY

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days26days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights106nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,702base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year; 27 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 37 °F, low 22 °F 37°22° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 33 °F 52°33° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 35 °F 53°35° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.59 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 3.6❄6 JanFebruary: 3.19 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 3.2❄4 FebMarch: 4.47 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 4.5❄2 MarApril: 4.91 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.9 AprMay: 5.21 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.47 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.5 OctNovember: 3.42 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.4 NovDecember: 3.96 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 4.0❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cheviot, OH (6 mi away); precipitation: Cheviot, OH (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

452036b
Cincinnati, OH · 1 mi
452046b
Cincinnati, OH · 2 mi
410116b
Covington, KY · 2 mi
452146b
Cincinnati, OH · 2 mi
452056b
Cincinnati, OH · 2 mi
452026b
Cincinnati, OH · 3 mi
410146b
Covington, KY · 3 mi
452196b
Cincinnati, OH · 3 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Covington → · Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 41016

What planting zone is ZIP code 41016?

ZIP code 41016 (Covington, 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 Covington, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 41016 is April 17; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cheviot station.

When is the first frost in Covington, KY?

The median first fall frost near 41016 is October 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 191 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 41016?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 20 – Mar 6 and set transplants outside around Apr 24 – May 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 41016 get?

About 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cheviot station).

How hot do summers get in Covington, KY?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 26 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 41016 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lakin at the center of ZIP 41016: loamy fine sand, excessively drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Covington, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 41016 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Covington, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 41016 is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.