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

Planting zone for 42647 — Stearns, KY

ZIP code 42647 (Stearns, McCreary County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 42647 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 24
First frostOct 18
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 Stearns, 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 Stearns, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Stearns 2s, KY — 8 miles away, elevation 1,221 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 42647

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 42647 came on Feb 26 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 6).

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 Stearns, KY.

Soil in Stearns, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 42647 is Shelocta — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.75%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Shelocta-Highsplint-Sequoia complex, 30 to 80 percent slopes, rocky.

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 42647; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stearns, KY

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights119nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,583base 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
Precipitation56.1 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 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 26 °F 49°26° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 41 °F 69°41° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 32 °F 58°32° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 JanFebruary: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 FebMarch: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 MarApril: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 AprMay: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 6.12 in precipitation 6.1 JulAugust: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 5.75 in precipitation 5.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Stearns 2s, KY (8 mi away); precipitation: Stearns 2s, KY (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

426387a
Revelo, KY · 9 mi
426317a
Marshes Siding, KY · 9 mi
426537a
Whitley City, KY · 12 mi
426497a
Strunk, KY · 12 mi
426357a
Pine Knot, KY · 12 mi
378417a
Oneida, TN · 13 mi
426337a
Monticello, KY · 14 mi
425187a
Bronston, KY · 16 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 42647

What planting zone is ZIP code 42647?

ZIP code 42647 (Stearns, 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 Stearns, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 42647 is April 24; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stearns 2s station.

When is the first frost in Stearns, KY?

The median first fall frost near 42647 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 177 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 42647?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 42647 get?

About 56.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stearns 2s station).

How hot do summers get in Stearns, KY?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 42647 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Shelocta at the center of ZIP 42647: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Stearns, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 42647 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Stearns, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 42647 is 14 h 40 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 42647 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 42647 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.