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

Planting zone for 63873 — Portageville, MO

ZIP code 63873 (Portageville, New Madrid County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost November 7.

Where ZIP 63873 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostMar 25
First frostNov 7
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Portageville, 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 Portageville, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 24
Growing season227 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 13 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Portageville, MO — 2 miles away, elevation 279 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 63873

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 7) 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 63873 came on Feb 25 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1).

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 7b in Missouri

542 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Missouri, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 73

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 164

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 Portageville, MO.

Soil in Portageville, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 63873 is Dubbs — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.4strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.38%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dubbs silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded.

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 63873; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Portageville, MO

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days45days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights71nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,677base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 39 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 40 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall7 inper year; 5 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 31 °F 48°31° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 40 °F 57°40° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 49 °F 68°49° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 60 °F 78°60° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 68 °F 86°68° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 71 °F 88°71° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 69 °F 87°69° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 40 °F 57°40° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 32 °F 47°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.45 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.5❄2 JanFebruary: 3.75 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 3.8❄2 FebMarch: 4.50 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.5 MarApril: 5.39 in precipitation 5.4 AprMay: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.96 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.0 OctNovember: 4.29 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.3 NovDecember: 4.45 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 4.5❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Portageville, MO (2 mi away); precipitation: Portageville, MO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

638667b
Marston, MO · 7 mi
638797b
Wardell, MO · 10 mi
638787b
Tallapoosa, MO · 10 mi
380797b
Tiptonville, TN · 11 mi
638627b
Lilbourn, MO · 11 mi
638517b
Hayti, MO · 12 mi
638747b
Risco, MO · 12 mi
380777b
Wynnburg, TN · 13 mi

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about 63873

What planting zone is ZIP code 63873?

ZIP code 63873 (Portageville, MO) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Portageville, MO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 63873 is March 25; after April 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Portageville station.

When is the first frost in Portageville, MO?

The median first fall frost near 63873 is November 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 227 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 63873?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 28 – Feb 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 1 – Apr 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 63873 get?

About 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 7 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Portageville station).

How hot do summers get in Portageville, MO?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 45 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 63873 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dubbs at the center of ZIP 63873: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.4 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Portageville, MO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 63873 came on Feb 25 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Portageville, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 63873 is 14 h 39 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 63873 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 63873 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.