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

Planting zone for 42444 — Poole, KY

ZIP code 42444 (Poole, Webster County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 42444 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 4
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 Poole, 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 Poole, 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 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season207 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Henderson 8 Ssw, KY — 8 miles away, elevation 449 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 42444

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 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 4) 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 42444 came on Mar 2 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8).

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).

Soil in Poole, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 42444 is Hosmer — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hosmer 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 42444; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Poole, KY

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days40days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights86nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,350base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall10 inper year; 10 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 42 °F, low 26 °F 42°26° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.42 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 3.4❄3 JanFebruary: 3.33 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 3.3❄4 FebMarch: 4.40 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.4❄1 MarApril: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 5.39 in precipitation 5.4 MayJune: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.58 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 4.49 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 4.5❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Henderson 8 Ssw, KY (8 mi away); precipitation: Sebree 1 E, KY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

424067a
Corydon, KY · 5 mi
424527a
Robards, KY · 6 mi
424557a
Sebree, KY · 7 mi
424097a
Dixon, KY · 8 mi
424627a
Waverly, KY · 10 mi
424197a
Henderson, KY · 12 mi
424567a
Slaughters, KY · 12 mi
424207a
Henderson, KY · 13 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 42444

What planting zone is ZIP code 42444?

ZIP code 42444 (Poole, 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 Poole, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 42444 is April 4; after April 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Henderson 8 Ssw station.

When is the first frost in Poole, KY?

The median first fall frost near 42444 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 207 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 42444?

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 42444 get?

About 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 10 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sebree 1 E station).

How hot do summers get in Poole, KY?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 40 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 42444 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hosmer at the center of ZIP 42444: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Poole, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 42444 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Poole, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 42444 is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 42444 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 42444 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.