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

Planting zone for 42462 — Waverly, KY

ZIP code 42462 (Waverly, Union 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 42462 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 Waverly, 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 Waverly, 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 42462

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 42462 came on Mar 2 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 Waverly, KY.

Soil in Waverly, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 42462 is Patton — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Patton silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, rarely flooded.

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 42462; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waverly, 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 47 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
Precipitation46 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall12 inper year

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″January: 3.28 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 3.3❄4 JanFebruary: 3.08 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 3.1❄3 FebMarch: 4.37 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 4.4❄2 MarApril: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 AprMay: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.59 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 3.85 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.9 NovDecember: 3.77 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 3.8❄3 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

424067a
Corydon, KY · 6 mi
424577a
Smith Mills, KY · 6 mi
424617a
Uniontown, KY · 7 mi
424377a
Morganfield, KY · 9 mi
424447a
Poole, KY · 10 mi
424197a
Henderson, KY · 12 mi
424527a
Robards, KY · 14 mi
476207a
Mount Vernon, IN · 15 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 42462

What planting zone is ZIP code 42462?

ZIP code 42462 (Waverly, 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 Waverly, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 42462 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 Waverly, KY?

The median first fall frost near 42462 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 207 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 42462?

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 42462 get?

About 46 inches of precipitation a year and 12 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Henderson 8 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Waverly, 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 42462 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Patton at the center of ZIP 42462: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Waverly, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 42462 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Waverly, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 42462 is 14 h 47 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 42462 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 42462 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.