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

Planting zone for 25866 — Lochgelly, WV

ZIP code 25866 (Lochgelly, Fayette County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 25866 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 21
First frostOct 19
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 Lochgelly, 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 Lochgelly, 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 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season179 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 6 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Oak Hill, WV — 2 miles away, elevation 2,041 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 25866

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 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 25866 came on Mar 8 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

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 Lochgelly, WV.

Soil in Lochgelly, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 25866 is Itmann — very channery sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureVery channery sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Itmann very channery sandy loam, very steep.

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 25866; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lochgelly, WV

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights115nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,088base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

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 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° 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 33 °F 54°33° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 5.13 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 5.55 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Oak Hill, WV (2 mi away); precipitation: Oak Hill, WV (2 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.

258406b
Fayetteville, WV · 3 mi
258796b
Minden, WV · 4 mi
251527a
Page, WV · 5 mi
258556b
Hilltop, WV · 5 mi
259176b
Scarbro, WV · 5 mi
251737a
Robson, WV · 5 mi
251197a
Kincaid, WV · 6 mi
258466b
Glen Jean, WV · 6 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 25866

What planting zone is ZIP code 25866?

ZIP code 25866 (Lochgelly, 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 Lochgelly, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 25866 is April 21; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oak Hill station.

When is the first frost in Lochgelly, WV?

The median first fall frost near 25866 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 25866?

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 25866 get?

About 47.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oak Hill station).

How hot do summers get in Lochgelly, WV?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 25866 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Itmann at the center of ZIP 25866: very channery sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Lochgelly, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 25866 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lochgelly, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 25866 is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.