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

Planting zone for 42044 — Gilbertsville, KY

ZIP code 42044 (Gilbertsville, Marshall County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 42044 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 9
First frostOct 19
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gilbertsville, 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 Gilbertsville, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season192 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Benton, KY — 8 miles away, elevation 364 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 42044

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 42044 came on Feb 26 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 3).

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 Gilbertsville, KY.

Soil in Gilbertsville, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 42044 is Brandon — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Brandon-Purchase-Lax complex, 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 42044; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gilbertsville, KY

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days54days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights103nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,147base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation53.1 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 46 °F, low 23 °F 46°23° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 26 °F 50°26° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 34 °F 61°34° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 62 °F 86°62° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 65 °F 90°65° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 63 °F 90°63° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 55 °F 84°55° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 43 °F 73°43° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 34 °F 60°34° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 26 °F 50°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JanFebruary: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 FebMarch: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 MarApril: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Benton, KY (8 mi away); precipitation: Eddyville 5s, KY (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

420297a
Calvert City, KY · 8 mi
420257a
Benton, KY · 8 mi
420457a
Grand Rivers, KY · 8 mi
420557a
Kuttawa, KY · 9 mi
420827a
Symsonia, KY · 13 mi
420587a
Ledbetter, KY · 13 mi
420837a
Tiline, KY · 14 mi
420487b
Hardin, KY · 14 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 42044

What planting zone is ZIP code 42044?

ZIP code 42044 (Gilbertsville, 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 Gilbertsville, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 42044 is April 9; after April 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Benton station.

When is the first frost in Gilbertsville, KY?

The median first fall frost near 42044 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 192 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 42044?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 42044 get?

About 53.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eddyville 5s station).

How hot do summers get in Gilbertsville, KY?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 54 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 42044 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Brandon at the center of ZIP 42044: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Gilbertsville, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 42044 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gilbertsville, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 42044 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.