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

Planting zone for 24737 — Montcalm, WV

ZIP code 24737 (Montcalm, Mercer County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 24737 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 21
First frostOct 22
2012 zone6b

Was 6b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Montcalm, 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 Montcalm, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 9 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Bluefield Mercer Co. Airport, WV — 5 miles away, elevation 2,871 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 24737

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 22) 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 24737 came on Mar 7 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

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 West Virginia

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

Trees 69

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 103

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 181

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 137

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 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °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 °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 Montcalm, WV.

Soil in Montcalm, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24737 is Gilpin — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter72%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gilpin-Berks channery silt loams, warm, 35 to 70 percent slopes, severely eroded.

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 24737; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Montcalm, WV

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights92nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,973base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation41.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall35 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 24 °F 40°24° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 27 °F 43°27° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 58 °F 76°58° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 62 °F 79°62° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 61 °F 78°61° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 55 °F 73°55° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 45 °F 63°45° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.03 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 3.0❄10 JanFebruary: 2.90 in precipitation, 8.8 in snowfall 2.9❄9 FebMarch: 3.84 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 3.8❄7 MarApril: 3.64 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.6❄1 AprMay: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.78 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 2.8❄1 OctNovember: 2.55 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 2.5❄1 NovDecember: 3.01 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 3.0❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bluefield Mercer Co. Airport, WV (5 mi away); precipitation: Bluefield Mercer Co. Airport, WV (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

247247a
Freeman, WV · 3 mi
247157a
Bramwell, WV · 4 mi
247386b
Nemours, WV · 5 mi
247017a
Bluefield, WV · 5 mi
247516b
Wolfe, WV · 5 mi
247477a
Rock, WV · 5 mi
248617a
Maybeury, WV · 5 mi
246357a
Pocahontas, VA · 6 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24737

What planting zone is ZIP code 24737?

ZIP code 24737 (Montcalm, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Montcalm, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24737 is April 21; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bluefield Mercer Co. Airport station.

When is the first frost in Montcalm, WV?

The median first fall frost near 24737 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 182 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24737?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 24 – Mar 10 and set transplants outside around Apr 28 – May 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24737 get?

About 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 35 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bluefield Mercer Co. Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Montcalm, WV?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24737 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gilpin at the center of ZIP 24737: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Montcalm, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24737 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Montcalm, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24737 is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24737 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24737 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.