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

Planting zone for Carson City, NV

Carson City, NV is in USDA zones 7a to 7b across its 10 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 6.

Carson City on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 ZIP code areas · 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.

Zones7a–7b0 to 10 °F
ZIP codes10
Last frostMay 4
First frostOct 6
Growing season152 days

7a 7 ZIPs   7b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Carson City, NV…

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 Carson City, NV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Carson City, NV, elevation 4,761 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 Carson City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 89711 came on Mar 5 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20).

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 Nevada

520 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nevada, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 29

Arizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FCalifornia red fir150 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FDouglas-fir200 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 103

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbigtooth maple38 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −31 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 248

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 132

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Farctic bluegrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −62 °F

Vines 1

western white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Carson City, NV.

Soil in Carson City, NV

The center of ZIP 89711 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 89711; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Carson City, NV

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days40days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights146nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,618base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation14.7 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 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 27 °F 50°27° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 43 °F 70°43° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 49 °F 81°49° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 55 °F 90°55° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 53 °F 88°53° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 46 °F 81°46° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 36 °F 68°36° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 28 °F 55°28° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 JanFebruary: 2.18 in precipitation 2.2 FebMarch: 1.56 in precipitation 1.6 MarApril: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 MayJune: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 AugSeptember: 0.26 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 NovDecember: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Carson City, NV (3 mi away); precipitation: Carson City 2.1 Nw, NV (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Carson City

897017a
0 to 5 °F
897027a
0 to 5 °F
897037b
5 to 10 °F
897057b
5 to 10 °F
897067b
5 to 10 °F
897117a
0 to 5 °F
897127a
0 to 5 °F
897137a
0 to 5 °F
897147a
0 to 5 °F
897217a
0 to 5 °F

Nevada planting zones →

Questions about Carson City

What planting zone is Carson City, NV?

Carson City, NV is in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F; 7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Carson City, NV?

The median last spring frost is May 4 and the median first fall frost is October 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carson City station).

When can I plant a garden in Carson City, NV?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 23 – Apr 13; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 11, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Carson City, NV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Carson City, NV get?

About 14.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).