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

Planting zone for 42085 — Water Valley, KY

ZIP code 42085 (Water Valley, Graves County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost October 28.

Where ZIP 42085 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 4
First frostOct 28
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Water Valley, 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 Water Valley, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 28median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season204 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Martin U Of T Branch E, TN — 16 miles away, elevation 341 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 42085

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 2 – Sep 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 14 – Nov 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Oct 28) 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 42085 came on Feb 25 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2).

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 7b in Kentucky

552 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 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 79

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 110

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 183

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 154

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 Water Valley, KY.

Soil in Water Valley, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 42085 is Collins — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Collins silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded, very brief duration.

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 42085; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Water Valley, KY

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days59days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights82nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,713base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 40 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 39 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 inper year; 3 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 67 °F 90°67° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.18 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 4.2❄1 JanFebruary: 4.74 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 4.7❄1 FebMarch: 5.32 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 5.3 MarApril: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 MayJune: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 4.48 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.5 NovDecember: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Martin U Of T Branch E, TN (16 mi away); precipitation: Martin U Of T Branch E, TN (16 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.

420887b
Wingo, KY · 4 mi
420417b
Fulton, KY · 4 mi
382577b
South Fulton, TN · 9 mi
382267b
Dukedom, TN · 10 mi
420797b
Sedalia, KY · 13 mi
420637b
Lynnville, KY · 13 mi
420317a
Clinton, KY · 13 mi
420667b
Mayfield, KY · 14 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 42085

What planting zone is ZIP code 42085?

ZIP code 42085 (Water Valley, KY) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Water Valley, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 42085 is April 4; after April 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Martin U Of T Branch E station.

When is the first frost in Water Valley, KY?

The median first fall frost near 42085 is October 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 204 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 42085?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 7 – Feb 21 and set transplants outside around Apr 11 – Apr 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 42085 get?

About 54.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Martin U Of T Branch E station).

How hot do summers get in Water Valley, KY?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 59 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 42085 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Collins at the center of ZIP 42085: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Water Valley, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 42085 came on Feb 25 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Water Valley, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 42085 is 14 h 40 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 42085 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 42085 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.