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

Planting zone for 63952 — Mill Spring, MO

ZIP code 63952 (Mill Spring, Wayne County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 26.

Where ZIP 63952 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 9
First frostOct 26
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 Mill Spring, 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 Mill Spring, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season199 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Clearwater Dam, MO — 11 miles away, elevation 659 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 63952

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 63952 came on Mar 4 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8).

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 Mill Spring, MO.

Soil in Mill Spring, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 63952 is Bearthicket — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.15%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bearthicket silt loam, 0 to 2 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 63952; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mill Spring, MO

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days50days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,179base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall9 inper year; 9 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.29 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 3.3❄3 JanFebruary: 3.61 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 3.6❄3 FebMarch: 4.77 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 4.8❄2 MarApril: 5.59 in precipitation 5.6 AprMay: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.58 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 4.59 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.6 NovDecember: 3.95 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 4.0❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Clearwater Dam, MO (11 mi away); precipitation: Williamsville, MO (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

639377a
Ellsinore, MO · 7 mi
639577a
Piedmont, MO · 10 mi
639677a
Williamsville, MO · 10 mi
639437a
Grandin, MO · 15 mi
639567a
Patterson, MO · 16 mi
639447a
Greenville, MO · 17 mi
639017a
Poplar Bluff, MO · 20 mi
636366b
Des Arc, MO · 20 mi

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about 63952

What planting zone is ZIP code 63952?

ZIP code 63952 (Mill Spring, 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 Mill Spring, MO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 63952 is April 9; after April 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clearwater Dam station.

When is the first frost in Mill Spring, MO?

The median first fall frost near 63952 is October 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 199 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 63952?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 63952 get?

About 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Williamsville station).

How hot do summers get in Mill Spring, 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 63952 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bearthicket at the center of ZIP 63952: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Mill Spring, MO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 63952 came on Mar 4 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mill Spring, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 63952 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 63952 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 63952 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.