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

Planting zone for 26651 — Summersville, WV

ZIP code 26651 (Summersville, Nicholas County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 26651 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 27
First frostOct 19
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 Summersville, 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 Summersville, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season173 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Summersville Lake, 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 26651

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 26651 came on Mar 9 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

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 Summersville, WV.

Soil in Summersville, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26651 is Clifftop — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.4strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Clifftop channery silt loam, 25 to 35 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 26651; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Summersville, WV

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights127nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,965base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 30 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49.8 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 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 29 °F 52°29° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 38 °F 65°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 5.26 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 5.85 in precipitation 5.8 JulAugust: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Summersville Lake, WV (6 mi away); precipitation: Summersville Lake, WV (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

266676b
Drennen, WV · 1 mi
266786b
Mount Lookout, WV · 7 mi
259386b
Victor, WV · 7 mi
266716b
Gilboa, WV · 7 mi
250196b
Bickmore, WV · 8 mi
266906b
Swiss, WV · 8 mi
251116b
Indore, WV · 9 mi
258546b
Hico, WV · 10 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26651

What planting zone is ZIP code 26651?

ZIP code 26651 (Summersville, 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 Summersville, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26651 is April 27; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Summersville Lake station.

When is the first frost in Summersville, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26651 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 173 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26651?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26651 get?

About 49.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Summersville Lake station).

How hot do summers get in Summersville, WV?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26651 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Clifftop at the center of ZIP 26651: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 4.4 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Summersville, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26651 came on Mar 9 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Summersville, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26651 is 14 h 50 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 26651 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 26651 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.