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

Planting zone for 41563 — Shelby Gap, KY

ZIP code 41563 (Shelby Gap, Pike County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 41563 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 29
First frostOct 16
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 Shelby Gap, 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 Shelby Gap, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Clintwood 1w, VA — 6 miles away, elevation 1,565 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 41563

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 41563 came on Mar 6 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

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 7a in Kentucky

547 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kentucky, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

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 109

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 181

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 153

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 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Shelby Gap, KY.

Soil in Shelby Gap, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 41563 is Fedscreek — channery loam, well drained.

TextureChannery loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.75%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Fedscreek-Marrowbone-Dekalb complex, 30 to 80 percent slopes, very stony.

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 41563; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shelby Gap, KY

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights133nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,007base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall38 inper year; 30 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 43 °F, low 22 °F 43°22° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 24 °F 47°24° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 29 °F 56°29° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 38 °F 68°38° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 25 °F 46°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.72 in precipitation, 11.5 in snowfall 3.7❄12 JanFebruary: 3.91 in precipitation, 10.5 in snowfall 3.9❄11 FebMarch: 4.42 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 4.4❄7 MarApril: 4.56 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.6❄1 AprMay: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 5.12 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.83 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.8 OctNovember: 2.80 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.8❄1 NovDecember: 4.25 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 4.3❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Clintwood 1w, VA (6 mi away); precipitation: Clintwood 1w, VA (6 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.

415127a
Ashcamp, KY · 4 mi
415176b
Burdine, KY · 4 mi
415377a
Jenkins, KY · 4 mi
415207a
Dorton, KY · 4 mi
415347a
Hellier, KY · 4 mi
415497a
Myra, KY · 6 mi
242286b
Clintwood, VA · 6 mi
415387a
Jonancy, KY · 6 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 41563

What planting zone is ZIP code 41563?

ZIP code 41563 (Shelby Gap, 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 Shelby Gap, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 41563 is April 29; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clintwood 1w station.

When is the first frost in Shelby Gap, KY?

The median first fall frost near 41563 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 169 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 41563?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 41563 get?

About 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clintwood 1w station).

How hot do summers get in Shelby Gap, KY?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 41563 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fedscreek at the center of ZIP 41563: channery loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Shelby Gap, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 41563 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shelby Gap, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 41563 is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 41563 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 41563 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.