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

Planting zone for 42123 — Austin, KY

ZIP code 42123 (Austin, Barren County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 42123 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 12
First frostOct 29
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 Austin, 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 Austin, 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 plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Barren Rvr Lake, KY — 9 miles away, elevation 617 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 42123

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 · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 42123 came on Mar 2 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1).

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 Austin, KY.

Soil in Austin, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 42123 is Mountview — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mountview silt loam, 2 to 6 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 42123; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Austin, KY

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days58days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights88nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,338base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 38 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation55.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 36 °F 58°36° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 65 °F 88°65° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 JanFebruary: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 FebMarch: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 MarApril: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 AprMay: 6.01 in precipitation 6.0 MayJune: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 5.49 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Barren Rvr Lake, KY (9 mi away); precipitation: Scottsville 9.2 Ese, KY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

421567a
Lucas, KY · 4 mi
421317a
Etoile, KY · 5 mi
421337a
Fountain Run, KY · 7 mi
421537a
Holland, KY · 9 mi
421417a
Glasgow, KY · 10 mi
421577a
Mount Hermon, KY · 10 mi
421647a
Scottsville, KY · 11 mi
421427a
Glasgow, KY · 13 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 42123

What planting zone is ZIP code 42123?

ZIP code 42123 (Austin, 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 Austin, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 42123 is April 12; after April 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Barren Rvr Lake station.

When is the first frost in Austin, KY?

The median first fall frost near 42123 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 42123?

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 42123 get?

About 55.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Scottsville 9.2 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Austin, KY?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 58 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 42123 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mountview at the center of ZIP 42123: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Austin, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 42123 came on Mar 2 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Austin, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 42123 is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 42123 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 42123 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.