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

Planting zone for 26283 — Montrose, WV

ZIP code 26283 (Montrose, Randolph County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 26283 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 13
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Montrose, 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 Montrose, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Belington, WV — 6 miles away, elevation 1,768 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 26283

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 26283 came on Mar 9 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26).

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 6a in West Virginia

502 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 177

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 133

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 9

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 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Montrose, WV.

Soil in Montrose, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26283 is Berks — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Berks-Weikert complex, 35 to 70 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 26283; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Montrose, WV

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights144nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,833base 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
Precipitation51.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall57 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 21 °F 43°21° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 36 °F 64°36° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.86 in precipitation, 19.2 in snowfall 3.9❄19 JanFebruary: 3.72 in precipitation, 14.4 in snowfall 3.7❄14 FebMarch: 4.51 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 4.5❄7 MarApril: 4.41 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 4.4❄1 AprMay: 5.49 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 5.54 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.65 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 3.3❄2 NovDecember: 4.24 in precipitation, 12.9 in snowfall 4.2❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Belington, WV (6 mi away); precipitation: Belington, WV (6 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.

262766a
Kerens, WV · 5 mi
262506a
Belington, WV · 8 mi
262756a
Junior, WV · 8 mi
262416a
Elkins, WV · 10 mi
262696a
Hambleton, WV · 10 mi
262876a
Parsons, WV · 10 mi
264056b
Moatsville, WV · 12 mi
262856a
Norton, WV · 12 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26283

What planting zone is ZIP code 26283?

ZIP code 26283 (Montrose, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Montrose, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26283 is May 6; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Belington station.

When is the first frost in Montrose, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26283 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26283?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26283 get?

About 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 57 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Belington station).

How hot do summers get in Montrose, WV?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26283 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Berks at the center of ZIP 26283: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Montrose, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26283 came on Mar 9 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Montrose, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26283 is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.