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

Planting zone for Elko, NV

Elko, NV is in USDA zones 5a to 5b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 29 and the first fall frost September 18.

Elko on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zones5a–5b−20 to −10 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMay 29
First frostSep 18
Growing season111 days

5a 1 ZIP   5b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Elko, 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 Elko, NV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 18median — 10% chance by Sep 3
Growing season111 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 11 and returns around September 29.

From the NOAA station Elko Regional Airport, NV, elevation 5,030 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 Elko

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 1 – May 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 8 – May 22
LettuceSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 12 – Jun 26
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 24 – Aug 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 4 – Oct 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 29) and first fall frost (Sep 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 89802 came on Mar 16 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 5a in Nevada

455 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nevada, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 25

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 81

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 219

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 123

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 Elko, NV.

Soil in Elko, NV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 89802 is Moranch — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH9.4alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importance, if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Moranch-Ocala-Orovada association.

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 89802; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elko, NV

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, December
Hot days48days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights195nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,290base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation10 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall41 inper year; 49 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 16 °F 38°16° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 21 °F 43°21° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 27 °F 53°27° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 32 °F 60°32° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 39 °F 70°39° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 45 °F 82°45° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 52 °F 92°52° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 49 °F 90°49° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 41 °F 80°41° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 29 °F 66°29° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 22 °F 50°22° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 15 °F 38°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 1.19 in precipitation, 10.4 in snowfall 1.2❄10 JanFebruary: 0.89 in precipitation, 6.8 in snowfall 0.9❄7 FebMarch: 0.97 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 1.0❄6 MarApril: 1.05 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 1.1❄3 AprMay: 1.22 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 1.2 MayJune: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.33 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 SepOctober: 0.74 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 0.7❄1 OctNovember: 0.88 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 0.9❄4 NovDecember: 1.20 in precipitation, 10.2 in snowfall 1.2❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elko Regional Airport, NV (within 1 mile); precipitation: Elko Regional Airport, NV (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Elko

898015a
−20 to −15 °F
898025b
−15 to −10 °F
898035b
−15 to −10 °F

Nevada planting zones →

Questions about Elko

What planting zone is Elko, NV?

Elko, NV is in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F; 5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Elko, NV?

The median last spring frost is May 29 and the median first fall frost is September 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elko Regional Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Elko, NV?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 17 – May 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Jun 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Elko, NV?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Elko, NV get?

About 10 inches of precipitation a year and 41 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).