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

Planting zone for 26296 — Whitmer, WV

ZIP code 26296 (Whitmer, Randolph County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 26296 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 15
First frostOct 3
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Whitmer, 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 Whitmer, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season139 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Glady 1 N, WV — 9 miles away, elevation 2,841 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 26296

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 26296 came on Mar 31 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 5b in West Virginia

479 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 66

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 95

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 168

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 131

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 8

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 Whitmer, WV.

Soil in Whitmer, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26296 is Calvin — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Calvin channery silt loam, 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 26296; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Whitmer, WV

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,049base 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
Precipitation55.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall103 inper year; 76 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 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 17 °F 39°17° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 24 °F 47°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 26 °F 49°26° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 4.45 in precipitation, 27.3 in snowfall 4.5❄27 JanFebruary: 3.98 in precipitation, 24 in snowfall 4.0❄24 FebMarch: 4.80 in precipitation, 17.5 in snowfall 4.8❄18 MarApril: 5.19 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 5.2❄4 AprMay: 6.24 in precipitation 6.2 MayJune: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 JulAugust: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.68 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 3.7❄1 OctNovember: 3.34 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 3.3❄8 NovDecember: 4.28 in precipitation, 20.2 in snowfall 4.3❄20 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Glady 1 N, WV (9 mi away); precipitation: Glady 1 N, WV (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

262705b
Harman, WV · 4 mi
268146a
Riverton, WV · 4 mi
268046a
Circleville, WV · 6 mi
268846a
Seneca Rocks, WV · 11 mi
249205b
Bartow, WV · 12 mi
268866a
Onego, WV · 13 mi
268076a
Franklin, WV · 14 mi
262546a
Bowden, WV · 14 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26296

What planting zone is ZIP code 26296?

ZIP code 26296 (Whitmer, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Whitmer, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26296 is May 15; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Glady 1 N station.

When is the first frost in Whitmer, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26296 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 139 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26296?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26296 get?

About 55.3 inches of precipitation a year and 103 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Glady 1 N station).

How hot do summers get in Whitmer, WV?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26296 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Calvin at the center of ZIP 26296: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Whitmer, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26296 came on Mar 31 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Whitmer, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26296 is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.