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

Planting zone for 26293 — Valley Bend, WV

ZIP code 26293 (Valley Bend, Randolph County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 26293 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 5
First frostOct 12
2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Valley Bend, 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 Valley Bend, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Elkins Randolph Co. Airport, WV — 9 miles away, elevation 1,978 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 26293

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 26293 came on Mar 15 — 11 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 Valley Bend, WV.

Soil in Valley Bend, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26293 is Highsplint — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Highsplint-Berks association, moist, 35 to 80 percent slopes, 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 26293; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Valley Bend, WV

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights136nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,967base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation50.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall75 inper year; 39 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 22 °F 45°22° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 29 °F 54°29° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 37 °F 66°37° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 39 °F 66°39° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 3.51 in precipitation, 22.8 in snowfall 3.5❄23 JanFebruary: 2.88 in precipitation, 14.9 in snowfall 2.9❄15 FebMarch: 4.28 in precipitation, 14.1 in snowfall 4.3❄14 MarApril: 4.37 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 4.4❄3 AprMay: 5.37 in precipitation 5.4 MayJune: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 6.46 in precipitation 6.5 JulAugust: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.49 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.5❄1 OctNovember: 3.01 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 3.0❄6 NovDecember: 3.60 in precipitation, 14.3 in snowfall 3.6❄14 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elkins Randolph Co. Airport, WV (9 mi away); precipitation: Dailey 1 Se, WV (2 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.

262596a
Dailey, WV · 3 mi
262536a
Beverly, WV · 5 mi
262786a
Mabie, WV · 6 mi
262806a
Mill Creek, WV · 7 mi
262685b
Glady, WV · 8 mi
262856a
Norton, WV · 9 mi
262736a
Huttonsville, WV · 10 mi
262576a
Coalton, WV · 11 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26293

What planting zone is ZIP code 26293?

ZIP code 26293 (Valley Bend, 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 Valley Bend, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26293 is May 5; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elkins Randolph Co. Airport station.

When is the first frost in Valley Bend, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26293 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26293?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26293 get?

About 50.1 inches of precipitation a year and 75 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dailey 1 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Valley Bend, WV?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26293 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Highsplint at the center of ZIP 26293: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Valley Bend, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26293 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Valley Bend, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26293 is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 26293 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 26293 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.