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

Planting zone for 26525 — Bruceton Mills, WV

ZIP code 26525 (Bruceton Mills, Preston County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 26525 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 frostApr 25
First frostOct 24
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 Bruceton Mills, 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 Bruceton Mills, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season181 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Lake Lynn, WV — 13 miles away, elevation 899 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 26525

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 26525 came on Mar 12 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30).

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 Bruceton Mills, WV.

Soil in Bruceton Mills, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26525 is Gilpin — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter72%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gilpin channery silt loam, 8 to 15 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 26525; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bruceton Mills, WV

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights110nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,226base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 22 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lake Lynn, WV (13 mi away); precipitation: Albright, WV (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

265196b
Albright, WV · 6 mi
154406a
Gibbon Glade, PA · 6 mi
154376a
Farmington, PA · 10 mi
265426b
Masontown, WV · 10 mi
215316a
Friendsville, MD · 11 mi
265077a
Morgantown, WV · 11 mi
154596a
Markleysburg, PA · 12 mi
154396b
Gans, PA · 12 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26525

What planting zone is ZIP code 26525?

ZIP code 26525 (Bruceton Mills, 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 Bruceton Mills, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26525 is April 25; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Lynn station.

When is the first frost in Bruceton Mills, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26525 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 181 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26525?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26525 get?

About 45.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albright station).

How hot do summers get in Bruceton Mills, WV?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26525 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gilpin at the center of ZIP 26525: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bruceton Mills, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26525 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bruceton Mills, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26525 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 26525 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 26525 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.