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

Planting zone for 41230 — Louisa, KY

ZIP code 41230 (Louisa, Lawrence County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 41230 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 24
First frostOct 17
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 Louisa, 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 Louisa, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Charley 2 Sw, KY — 8 miles away, elevation 742 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 41230

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 41230 came on Mar 6 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13).

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 Louisa, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 41230 is Blairton — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Blairton-Cruze-Marrowbone complex, 12 to 25 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 41230; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Louisa, KY

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights127nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,436base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 30 °F 58°30° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 39 °F 70°39° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 41 °F 69°41° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 30 °F 57°30° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 5.35 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Charley 2 Sw, KY (8 mi away); precipitation: Louisa 5w, KY (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

412016b
Adams, KY · 5 mi
255147a
Fort Gay, WV · 8 mi
412327a
Lowmansville, KY · 9 mi
412647a
Ulysses, KY · 10 mi
411246b
Blaine, KY · 11 mi
255177a
Genoa, WV · 12 mi
255557a
Prichard, WV · 12 mi
412547a
River, KY · 12 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 41230

What planting zone is ZIP code 41230?

ZIP code 41230 (Louisa, 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 Louisa, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 41230 is April 24; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Charley 2 Sw station.

When is the first frost in Louisa, KY?

The median first fall frost near 41230 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 174 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 41230?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 41230 get?

About 47.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Louisa 5w station).

How hot do summers get in Louisa, KY?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 21 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 41230 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Blairton at the center of ZIP 41230: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Louisa, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 41230 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Louisa, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 41230 is 14 h 49 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 41230 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 41230 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.