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

Planting zone for 25696 — Varney, WV

ZIP code 25696 (Varney, Mingo County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost November 2.

Where ZIP 25696 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 8
First frostNov 2
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 Varney, 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 Varney, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season206 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 10.

From the NOAA station Williamson, WV — 12 miles away, elevation 761 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 25696

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 7 – Sep 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 19 – Nov 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Nov 2) 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 25696 came on Mar 6 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 12).

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 Varney, WV.

Soil in Varney, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 25696 is Matewan — very channery moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureVery channery moderately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69.7%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Matewan-Highsplint-Guyandotte association, very steep, 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 25696; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Varney, WV

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights95nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,311base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 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
Precipitation50.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall15 inper year; 13 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 44 °F 72°44° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.69 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 3.7❄6 JanFebruary: 3.44 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 3.4❄4 FebMarch: 4.24 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 4.2❄2 MarApril: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 AprMay: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 5.85 in precipitation 5.8 JulAugust: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 3.15 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.1 NovDecember: 4.27 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 4.3❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Williamson, WV (12 mi away); precipitation: Man, WV (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

256927a
Red Jacket, WV · 3 mi
256447a
Sarah Ann, WV · 3 mi
256387a
Omar, WV · 5 mi
256787a
Matewan, WV · 6 mi
256907a
Ragland, WV · 6 mi
256887a
North Matewan, WV · 6 mi
256867a
Newtown, WV · 6 mi
256727a
Edgarton, WV · 7 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 25696

What planting zone is ZIP code 25696?

ZIP code 25696 (Varney, 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 Varney, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 25696 is April 8; after April 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Williamson station.

When is the first frost in Varney, WV?

The median first fall frost near 25696 is November 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 206 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 25696?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 11 – Feb 25 and set transplants outside around Apr 15 – Apr 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 25696 get?

About 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 15 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Man station).

How hot do summers get in Varney, WV?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 44 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 25696 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Matewan at the center of ZIP 25696: very channery moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Varney, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 25696 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Varney, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 25696 is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 25696 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 25696 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.