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

Planting zone for 63770 — Old Appleton, MO

ZIP code 63770 (Old Appleton, Cape Girardeau County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 63770 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 7
First frostOct 29
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 Old Appleton, 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 Old Appleton, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season202 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Jackson, MO — 15 miles away, elevation 440 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 63770

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 63770 came on Mar 2 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 9).

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 Old Appleton, MO.

Soil in Old Appleton, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 63770 is Menfro — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Menfro-Bucklick silt loams, 9 to 14 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 63770; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Old Appleton, MO

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days57days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights91nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,418base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation43.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall6 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.79 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.8❄2 JanFebruary: 2.78 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.8❄2 FebMarch: 4.33 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.3❄1 MarApril: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 AprMay: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 3.22 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.2 OctNovember: 4.46 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.5 NovDecember: 3.08 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.1❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Jackson, MO (15 mi away); precipitation: Grand Twr 2 N, IL (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

637837a
Uniontown, MO · 1 mi
637697a
Oak Ridge, MO · 5 mi
637487a
Frohna, MO · 7 mi
637327a
Altenburg, MO · 7 mi
637477a
Friedheim, MO · 7 mi
637797a
Pocahontas, MO · 7 mi
637467a
Farrar, MO · 8 mi
637437a
Daisy, MO · 9 mi

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about 63770

What planting zone is ZIP code 63770?

ZIP code 63770 (Old Appleton, 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 Old Appleton, MO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 63770 is April 7; after April 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jackson station.

When is the first frost in Old Appleton, MO?

The median first fall frost near 63770 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 202 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 63770?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 10 – Feb 24 and set transplants outside around Apr 14 – Apr 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 63770 get?

About 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grand Twr 2 N station).

How hot do summers get in Old Appleton, MO?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 57 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 63770 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Menfro at the center of ZIP 63770: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Old Appleton, MO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 63770 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Old Appleton, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 63770 is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 63770 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 63770 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.