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

Planting zone for 41368 — Saint Helens, KY

ZIP code 41368 (Saint Helens, Lee County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 41368 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 12
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 Saint Helens, 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 Saint Helens, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 12median — 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 season192 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Beattyville 4n, KY — 5 miles away, elevation 1,079 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 41368

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
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 12) 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 41368 came on Mar 2 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 9).

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 Saint Helens, KY.

Soil in Saint Helens, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 41368 is Allegheny — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.4strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Allegheny loam, 6 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 41368; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Helens, KY

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days15days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights98nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,788base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation51 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year; 15 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 3.90 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.9❄5 JanFebruary: 3.77 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 3.8❄5 FebMarch: 4.72 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 4.7❄3 MarApril: 4.85 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.8 AprMay: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 6.11 in precipitation 6.1 JulAugust: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.19 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.2 NovDecember: 4.48 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 4.5❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Beattyville 4n, KY (5 mi away); precipitation: Beattyville 4n, KY (5 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.

413476b
Lone, KY · 4 mi
413116b
Beattyville, KY · 4 mi
413977a
Zoe, KY · 6 mi
413657a
Rogers, KY · 9 mi
413146b
Booneville, KY · 10 mi
413866b
Vincent, KY · 11 mi
413017a
Campton, KY · 12 mi
413646b
Ricetown, KY · 15 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 41368

What planting zone is ZIP code 41368?

ZIP code 41368 (Saint Helens, 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 Saint Helens, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 41368 is April 12; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beattyville 4n station.

When is the first frost in Saint Helens, KY?

The median first fall frost near 41368 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 192 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 41368?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 15 – Mar 1 and set transplants outside around Apr 19 – May 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 41368 get?

About 51 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beattyville 4n station).

How hot do summers get in Saint Helens, KY?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 15 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 41368 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Allegheny at the center of ZIP 41368: loam, well drained, pH about 5.4 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Saint Helens, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 41368 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Helens, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 41368 is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.