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

Planting zone for 24986 — White Sulphur Springs, WV

ZIP code 24986 (White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 24986 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 22
First frostOct 21
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for White Sulphur Springs, 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 White Sulphur Springs, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season181 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Gathright Dam, VA — 11 miles away, elevation 1,772 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 24986

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 24986 came on Mar 9 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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 White Sulphur Springs, WV.

Soil in White Sulphur Springs, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24986 is Berks — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly 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: Berks channery loam, 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 24986; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in White Sulphur Springs, WV

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights122nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,061base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 32 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation40.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall18 inper year; 21 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 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.94 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 2.9❄5 JanFebruary: 2.69 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 2.7❄6 FebMarch: 3.49 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 3.5❄4 MarApril: 3.57 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.6 AprMay: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.52 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.5 OctNovember: 2.57 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.6 NovDecember: 3.20 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 3.2❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gathright Dam, VA (11 mi away); precipitation: Gathright Dam, VA (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

249386b
Frankford, WV · 12 mi
244267a
Covington, VA · 12 mi
249576b
Maxwelton, WV · 14 mi
244456b
Hot Springs, VA · 15 mi
249666b
Renick, WV · 16 mi
244577a
Low Moor, VA · 18 mi
244747a
Selma, VA · 18 mi
249256b
Caldwell, WV · 18 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24986

What planting zone is ZIP code 24986?

ZIP code 24986 (White Sulphur Springs, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in White Sulphur Springs, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24986 is April 22; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gathright Dam station.

When is the first frost in White Sulphur Springs, WV?

The median first fall frost near 24986 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 181 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24986?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 25 – Mar 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 29 – May 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24986 get?

About 40.1 inches of precipitation a year and 18 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gathright Dam station).

How hot do summers get in White Sulphur Springs, WV?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24986 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Berks at the center of ZIP 24986: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in White Sulphur Springs, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24986 came on Mar 9 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in White Sulphur Springs, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24986 is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.