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

Planting zone for 26161 — Petroleum, WV

ZIP code 26161 (Petroleum, Ritchie County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 26161 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 26
First frostOct 17
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Petroleum, 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 Petroleum, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season173 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Harrisville, WV — 11 miles away, elevation 824 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 26161

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 26161 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 Petroleum, WV.

Soil in Petroleum, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26161 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 classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Upshur-Gilpin complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes.

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 26161; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Petroleum, WV

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights129nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,327base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.3 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 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 23 °F 45°23° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 39 °F 67°39° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 41 °F 67°41° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 MarApril: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 JulAugust: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

263376b
Cairo, WV · 7 mi
261806b
Walker, WV · 7 mi
261486b
Macfarlan, WV · 8 mi
261436b
Elizabeth, WV · 10 mi
263626b
Harrisville, WV · 10 mi
261386b
Brohard, WV · 11 mi
261846b
Waverly, WV · 11 mi
261426b
Davisville, WV · 12 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26161

What planting zone is ZIP code 26161?

ZIP code 26161 (Petroleum, 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 Petroleum, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26161 is April 26; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harrisville station.

When is the first frost in Petroleum, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26161 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 173 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26161?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26161 get?

About 47.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harrisville station).

How hot do summers get in Petroleum, WV?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26161 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Upshur at the center of ZIP 26161: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Petroleum, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26161 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 Petroleum, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26161 is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 26161 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 26161 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.