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

Planting zone for 26104 — Parkersburg, WV

ZIP code 26104 (Parkersburg, Wood County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 26104 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 14
First frostOct 30
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 Parkersburg, 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 Parkersburg, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season197 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Parkersburg, WV — 4 miles away, elevation 620 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 26104

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 26104 came on Mar 8 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19).

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 Parkersburg, WV.

Soil in Parkersburg, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26104 is Upshur — 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 groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Upshur-Gilpin silt loams, 15 to 25 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 26104; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Parkersburg, WV

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days29days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights105nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,824base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation44.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall11 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 24 °F 40°24° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F 45°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.41 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 3.4❄6 JanFebruary: 3.01 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 3.0❄3 FebMarch: 4.00 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.0❄1 MarApril: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 2.83 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.8 NovDecember: 3.39 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 3.4❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Parkersburg, WV (4 mi away); precipitation: Parkersburg, WV (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

261056b
Vienna, WV · 4 mi
261026b
Parkersburg, WV · 4 mi
261067a
Parkersburg, WV · 4 mi
261206b
Mineral Wells, WV · 4 mi
261216b
Mineral Wells, WV · 4 mi
261036b
Parkersburg, WV · 4 mi
261426b
Davisville, WV · 5 mi
261876b
Williamstown, WV · 6 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Parkersburg → · West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26104

What planting zone is ZIP code 26104?

ZIP code 26104 (Parkersburg, 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 Parkersburg, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26104 is April 14; after May 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Parkersburg station.

When is the first frost in Parkersburg, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26104 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 197 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26104?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 17 – Mar 3 and set transplants outside around Apr 21 – May 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26104 get?

About 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 11 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Parkersburg station).

How hot do summers get in Parkersburg, WV?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 29 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26104 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Upshur at the center of ZIP 26104: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Parkersburg, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26104 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Parkersburg, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26104 is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.