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

Planting zone for Reno, NV

Reno, NV is in USDA zones 6b to 7b across its 24 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 28 and the first fall frost October 27.

Reno on the zone map

Outlined: its 13 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.

Zones6b–7b−5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes24
Last frostApr 28
First frostOct 27
Growing season182 days

6b 1 ZIP   7a 7 ZIPs   7b 16 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Reno, 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 Reno, NV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Reno WFO, NV, elevation 4,987 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 Reno

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 12 – May 26
BeansSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 89507 came on Mar 1 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 6b in Nevada

508 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nevada, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 97

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 246

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 129

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 Reno, NV.

Soil in Reno, NV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 89507 is Waspo — clay, well drained.

TextureClayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Waspo clay, 15 to 30 percent slopes.

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 89507; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Reno, NV

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days60days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights102nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,395base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 58 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 22 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation9.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall33 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 54 °F 83°54° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 61 °F 93°61° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 60 °F 91°60° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 53 °F 82°53° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 1.39 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 1.4❄7 JanFebruary: 1.28 in precipitation, 9.6 in snowfall 1.3❄10 FebMarch: 1.17 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 1.2❄6 MarApril: 0.64 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 0.6❄1 AprMay: 0.67 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.7 MayJune: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.22 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.59 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.6 OctNovember: 0.75 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 0.8❄3 NovDecember: 1.39 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 1.4❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Reno WFO, NV (2 mi away); precipitation: Reno 1.4 Nne, NV (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Reno

895017b
5 to 10 °F
895027b
5 to 10 °F
895037b
5 to 10 °F
895047b
5 to 10 °F
895057b
5 to 10 °F
895067b
5 to 10 °F
895077a
0 to 5 °F
895087a
0 to 5 °F
895097b
5 to 10 °F
895107a
0 to 5 °F
895116b
−5 to 0 °F
895127b
5 to 10 °F
895137b
5 to 10 °F
895157b
5 to 10 °F
895197b
5 to 10 °F
895207b
5 to 10 °F
895217a
0 to 5 °F
895237a
0 to 5 °F
895337b
5 to 10 °F
895557b
5 to 10 °F
895577a
0 to 5 °F
895707b
5 to 10 °F
895957b
5 to 10 °F
895997a
0 to 5 °F

Nevada planting zones →

Questions about Reno

What planting zone is Reno, NV?

Reno, NV is in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F; 7a: 0 to 5 °F; 7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Reno, NV?

The median last spring frost is April 28 and the median first fall frost is October 27 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Reno WFO station).

When can I plant a garden in Reno, NV?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 17 – Apr 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Reno, NV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 58 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Reno, NV get?

About 9.2 inches of precipitation a year and 33 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).