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

Planting zone for 63742 — Commerce, MO

ZIP code 63742 (Commerce, Scott County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 63742 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 5
First frostOct 25
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Commerce, MO…

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 Commerce, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season201 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport, MO — 8 miles away, elevation 335 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 63742

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 5) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 63742 came on Mar 1 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7).

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 7a in Missouri

540 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Missouri, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 72

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 °Fbald cypress130 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Shrubs 85

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 195

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 163

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblister sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium 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 Commerce, MO.

Soil in Commerce, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 63742 is Saffell — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Saffell gravelly loam, 15 to 45 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 63742; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Commerce, MO

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights90nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,462base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation50.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 30 °F 46°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 FebMarch: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 5.44 in precipitation 5.4 MayJune: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport, MO (8 mi away); precipitation: Scott City 0.9 E, MO (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

637807a
Scott City, MO · 3 mi
629907a
Thebes, IL · 5 mi
637587a
Kelso, MO · 6 mi
629697a
Olive Branch, IL · 6 mi
637367a
Benton, MO · 7 mi
629937a
Unity, IL · 7 mi
629627a
Miller City, IL · 8 mi
637037a
Cape Girardeau, MO · 9 mi

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about 63742

What planting zone is ZIP code 63742?

ZIP code 63742 (Commerce, MO) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Commerce, MO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 63742 is April 5; after April 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Commerce, MO?

The median first fall frost near 63742 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 201 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 63742?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 8 – Feb 22 and set transplants outside around Apr 12 – Apr 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 63742 get?

About 50.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Scott City 0.9 E station).

How hot do summers get in Commerce, MO?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 47 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 63742 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Saffell at the center of ZIP 63742: gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Commerce, MO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 63742 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Commerce, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 63742 is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 63742 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 63742 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.