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

Planting zone for 63936 — Dudley, MO

ZIP code 63936 (Dudley, Stoddard County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost October 31.

Where ZIP 63936 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 31
First frostOct 31
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 Dudley, 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 Dudley, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 19
Growing season214 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 19 and returns around November 10.

From the NOAA station Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport, MO — 11 miles away, elevation 328 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 63936

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 63936 came on Mar 1 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 4).

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 Dudley, MO.

Soil in Dudley, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 63936 is Calhoun — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.4strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.7%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Calhoun 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 63936; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dudley, MO

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days50days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights80nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,593base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 38 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation50.7 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 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 FebMarch: 5.10 in precipitation 5.1 MarApril: 5.67 in precipitation 5.7 AprMay: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 NovDecember: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport, MO (11 mi away); precipitation: Bloomfield 2.9 S, MO (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

639407b
Fisk, MO · 6 mi
638417b
Dexter, MO · 8 mi
639627b
Rombauer, MO · 9 mi
639607a
Puxico, MO · 10 mi
639327b
Broseley, MO · 11 mi
638227b
Bernie, MO · 13 mi
639667a
Wappapello, MO · 13 mi
638257a
Bloomfield, MO · 13 mi

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about 63936

What planting zone is ZIP code 63936?

ZIP code 63936 (Dudley, 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 Dudley, MO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 63936 is March 31; after April 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Dudley, MO?

The median first fall frost near 63936 is October 31, giving a median frost-free growing season of 214 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 63936?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 3 – Feb 17 and set transplants outside around Apr 7 – Apr 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 63936 get?

About 50.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bloomfield 2.9 S station).

How hot do summers get in Dudley, MO?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 50 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 63936 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Calhoun at the center of ZIP 63936: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 5.4 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Dudley, MO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 63936 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Dudley, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 63936 is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 63936 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 63936 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.