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

Planting zone for Beckley, WV

Beckley, WV is in USDA zone 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 10.

Beckley 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 10
Growing season156 days

6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Beckley, WV…

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 Beckley, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Beckley Va Hospital, WV, elevation 2,330 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 Beckley

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
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 6) 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 25801 came on Mar 8 — 12 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 6b in West Virginia

506 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 102

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 178

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 134

arctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbitter panicgrass5 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Vines 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Beckley, WV.

Soil in Beckley, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 25801 is Layland — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Layland-Dekalb-Guyandotte complex, 35 to 70 percent slopes, extremely stony.

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 25801; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Beckley, WV

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights140nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,502base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 47 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation43.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall38 inper year; 30 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 21 °F 43°21° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 27 °F 51°27° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 36 °F 63°36° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.09 in precipitation, 12.8 in snowfall 3.1❄13 JanFebruary: 2.87 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 2.9❄10 FebMarch: 3.79 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 3.8❄5 MarApril: 3.78 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.8❄1 AprMay: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 5.36 in precipitation 5.4 JulAugust: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.56 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 2.6❄1 OctNovember: 2.66 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 2.7❄1 NovDecember: 3.53 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 3.5❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Beckley Va Hospital, WV (7 mi away); precipitation: Beckley Va Hospital, WV (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Beckley

258016b
−5 to 0 °F
258026b
−5 to 0 °F

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Beckley

What planting zone is Beckley, WV?

Beckley, WV is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Beckley, WV?

The median last spring frost is May 6 and the median first fall frost is October 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beckley Va Hospital station).

When can I plant a garden in Beckley, WV?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 25 – Apr 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 13, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Beckley, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 47 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Beckley, WV get?

About 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).