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

Planting zone for 41022 — Florence, KY

ZIP code 41022 (Florence, Boone County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 41022 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 18
First frostOct 25
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 Florence, 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 Florence, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season188 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 5 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport, KY — 7 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 41022

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 41022 came on Mar 8 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19).

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 Florence, KY.

Soil in Florence, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 41022 is Faywood — silty clay, well drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Faywood silty clay, 12 to 20 percent slopes, severely eroded.

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 41022; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Florence, KY

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights100nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,814base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall23 inper year; 22 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 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.30 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 3.3❄8 JanFebruary: 3.17 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 3.2❄7 FebMarch: 4.16 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 4.2❄3 MarApril: 4.53 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.5 AprMay: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 3.35 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.4 OctNovember: 3.23 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.2❄1 NovDecember: 3.73 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 3.7❄4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

410056b
Burlington, KY · 3 mi
410916b
Union, KY · 4 mi
410426b
Florence, KY · 6 mi
410806b
Petersburg, KY · 8 mi
410216b
Hebron, KY · 8 mi
410186b
Erlanger, KY · 9 mi
410946b
Walton, KY · 9 mi
410486b
Hebron, KY · 9 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Florence → · Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 41022

What planting zone is ZIP code 41022?

ZIP code 41022 (Florence, 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 Florence, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 41022 is April 18; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport station.

When is the first frost in Florence, KY?

The median first fall frost near 41022 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 41022?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 21 – Mar 7 and set transplants outside around Apr 25 – May 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 41022 get?

About 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 23 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Florence, KY?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 41022 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Faywood at the center of ZIP 41022: silty clay, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Florence, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 41022 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Florence, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 41022 is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 41022 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 41022 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.