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

Planting zone for 42349 — Horse Branch, KY

ZIP code 42349 (Horse Branch, Ohio County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 42349 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 10
First frostOct 22
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 Horse Branch, 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 Horse Branch, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season192 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Beaver Dam, KY — 13 miles away, elevation 400 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 42349

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Oct 22) 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 42349 came on Mar 2 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7).

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 Horse Branch, KY.

Soil in Horse Branch, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 42349 is Wellston — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Wellston silt loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes, 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 42349; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Horse Branch, KY

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days39days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights92nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,246base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52 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 44 °F, low 24 °F 44°24° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 65 °F 88°65° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 36 °F 58°36° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 FebMarch: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 MarApril: 5.01 in precipitation 5.0 AprMay: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Beaver Dam, KY (13 mi away); precipitation: Beaver Dam, KY (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

423707a
Rosine, KY · 4 mi
423337a
Cromwell, KY · 6 mi
423617a
Olaton, KY · 6 mi
427217a
Caneyville, KY · 10 mi
423387a
Dundee, KY · 10 mi
422017a
Aberdeen, KY · 12 mi
423207a
Beaver Dam, KY · 12 mi
423477a
Hartford, KY · 13 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 42349

What planting zone is ZIP code 42349?

ZIP code 42349 (Horse Branch, 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 Horse Branch, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 42349 is April 10; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beaver Dam station.

When is the first frost in Horse Branch, KY?

The median first fall frost near 42349 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 192 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 42349?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 13 – Feb 27 and set transplants outside around Apr 17 – May 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 42349 get?

About 52 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beaver Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Horse Branch, KY?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 39 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 42349 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wellston at the center of ZIP 42349: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Horse Branch, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 42349 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Horse Branch, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 42349 is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 42349 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 42349 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.