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

Planting zone for 24920 — Bartow, WV

ZIP code 24920 (Bartow, Pocahontas County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 24920 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 9
First frostOct 5
2012 zone5b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bartow, 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 Bartow, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Bartow 1s, WV — 8 miles away, elevation 3,025 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 24920

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 24920 came on Mar 31 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9).

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 5b in West Virginia

479 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 66

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 95

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 168

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 131

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 8

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 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Bartow, WV.

Soil in Bartow, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24920 is Mandy — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter78%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mandy-Wildell complex, 35 to 55 percent slopes, very 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 24920; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bartow, WV

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights153nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,163base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 28 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation43.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall67 inper year; 65 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 35 °F, low 17 °F 35°17° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 22 °F 39°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.42 in precipitation, 16 in snowfall 3.4❄16 JanFebruary: 2.99 in precipitation, 17.2 in snowfall 3.0❄17 FebMarch: 4.09 in precipitation, 13.9 in snowfall 4.1❄14 MarApril: 3.81 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 3.8❄3 AprMay: 4.87 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.9 MayJune: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.86 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 2.9❄1 OctNovember: 2.92 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 2.9❄4 NovDecember: 3.67 in precipitation, 12.8 in snowfall 3.7❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bartow 1s, WV (8 mi away); precipitation: Bartow 1s, WV (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

262645b
Durbin, WV · 7 mi
262685b
Glady, WV · 9 mi
268046a
Circleville, WV · 10 mi
244136a
Blue Grass, VA · 12 mi
262965b
Whitmer, WV · 12 mi
249156a
Arbovale, WV · 12 mi
262705b
Harman, WV · 13 mi
262736a
Huttonsville, WV · 14 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24920

What planting zone is ZIP code 24920?

ZIP code 24920 (Bartow, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Bartow, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24920 is May 9; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bartow 1s station.

When is the first frost in Bartow, WV?

The median first fall frost near 24920 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24920?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24920 get?

About 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 67 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bartow 1s station).

How hot do summers get in Bartow, WV?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24920 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mandy at the center of ZIP 24920: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bartow, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24920 came on Mar 31 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bartow, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24920 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.