Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 40946 (Knox County, KY)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Barbourville, KY (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)187 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 40946, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 40946 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring early March to early April; fall late August to mid-September.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Jun 4 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 24: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 4 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 6 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 11 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 3 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 30 | Oct 15 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 6 | Nov 1 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 40946
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 24). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 29–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 22–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) Jul 18–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) Jul 18–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 4–25 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–26 (transplant) Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 15–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 4–18 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 22–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 22–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Apr 26–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 8–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Barbourville, KY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00150381), elevation 990 ft, 6.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester 4 W, KY | 13 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 16 |
| London Corbin AP, KY | 17 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 25 |
| Oneida, KY | 23 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 40946
When is the last frost in 40946?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 40946 is April 19. For a more cautious planting date, use May 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 40946?
The average first fall freeze is October 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 11.
What hardiness zone is 40946?
ZIP 40946 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 40946 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
40943 40953 40923 40935 Flat Lick 40949 40915 40906 Barbourville 40982
Other ZIP codes in Knox County
40734 40771 40903 40906 40915 40921 40923 40935 40943 40949 40953 40982 40995 40997 All Knox County frost dates · Kentucky frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.