Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 41049 — Hillsboro, KY

ZIP code 41049 (Hillsboro, Fleming 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 25.

Where ZIP 41049 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 25

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 Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, 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 6only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 13

Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Cave Run Lake, KY — 12 miles away, elevation 840 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 41049

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 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 17) 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 41049 came on Mar 8 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

average
Mar 142026
Mar 8

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.

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 Hillsboro, KY.

Soil in Hillsboro, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 41049 is Beasley — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up

pH5.9moderately acidic; 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: Beasley-Shrouts complex, rocky, 12 to 30 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 41049; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hillsboro, KY

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July

Winter low25 °Faverage low, January

Hot days31days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights101nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days3,721base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 50 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 30 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully

Precipitation49.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall7 inper year

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cave Run Lake, KY (12 mi away); precipitation: Morehead State Police, KY (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

410816b

Plummers Landing, KY · 7 mi

410936b

Wallingford, KY · 9 mi

403606b

Owingsville, KY · 10 mi

410416b

Flemingsburg, KY · 10 mi

Moorefield, KY · 13 mi

403716b

Salt Lick, KY · 13 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 41049

What planting zone is ZIP code 41049?

ZIP code 41049 (Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 41049 is April 17; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cave Run Lake station.

When is the first frost in Hillsboro, KY?

The median first fall frost near 41049 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 189 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 41049?

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 41049 get?

About 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 7 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Morehead State Police station).

How hot do summers get in Hillsboro, KY?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 31 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 41049 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Beasley at the center of ZIP 41049: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Hillsboro, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 41049 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hillsboro, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 41049 is 14 h 50 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.