Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 42048 (Hardin, 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, Kenlake Resort, KY (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)221 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
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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
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Princeton #1 (35 mi).
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Princeton #1 (35 mi).
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 42048 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 May 15 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 4: 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) | Mar 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 30 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 16 |
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 23 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 4 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 21 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 11 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 30 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 16 | Nov 16 |
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 42048
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 30) and first fall frost (Nov 4). 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 2–16 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 2–16 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 2–16 | Mar 9–30 (transplant) Mar 2–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–30 (transplant) Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 16–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 15–29 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 2–9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 2–9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 2–9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 2–9 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 2–9 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 5–19 | Apr 6–13 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (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: Kenlake Resort, KY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00154375), elevation 484 ft, 8.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton, KY | 8 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 19 |
| Murray, KY | 10 mi | Apr 5 | Nov 1 |
| Eddyville 5S, KY | 24 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 42048
When is the last frost in 42048?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 42048 is March 30. For a more cautious planting date, use April 16, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 42048?
The average first fall freeze is November 4. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 23.
What hardiness zone is 42048?
ZIP 42048 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 42048 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
42036 Dexter 42020 42025 Benton 42054 42071 Murray 42044 Calvert City 42040 Farmington 42082 Symsonia
Other ZIP codes in Marshall County
42025 42029 42044 All Marshall County frost dates · Kentucky frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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