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

Planting zone for Sparks, NV

Sparks, NV is in USDA zones 7a to 7b across its 7 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 10.

Sparks on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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 codes7
Last frostMay 1
First frostOct 10
Growing season160 days

7a 4 ZIPs   7b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Sparks, 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 Sparks, NV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Sparks, NV, elevation 4,357 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 Sparks

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 89436 came on Mar 1 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 11).

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 Sparks, NV.

Soil in Sparks, NV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 89436 is Fettic — silty clay loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.8alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importance, if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Fettic silty clay loam.

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 89436; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sparks, NV

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days59days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,801base 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

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 22 °F 46°22° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 24 °F 51°24° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 30 °F 58°30° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 34 °F 64°34° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 42 °F 73°42° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 49 °F 83°49° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 56 °F 92°56° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 53 °F 91°53° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 45 °F 83°45° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 35 °F 69°35° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 27 °F 55°27° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 22 °F 45°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 JanFebruary: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 1.11 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.63 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 OctNovember: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 1.30 in precipitation 1.3 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Sparks

894317a
0 to 5 °F
894327a
0 to 5 °F
894347b
5 to 10 °F
894357a
0 to 5 °F
894367a
0 to 5 °F
894377b
5 to 10 °F
894417b
5 to 10 °F

Nevada planting zones →

Questions about Sparks

What planting zone is Sparks, NV?

Sparks, 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 Sparks, NV?

The median last spring frost is May 1 and the median first fall frost is October 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sparks station).

When can I plant a garden in Sparks, NV?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 20 – Apr 10; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 8, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Sparks, 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 Sparks, NV get?

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