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

Planting zone for 64507 — Saint Joseph, MO

ZIP code 64507 (Saint Joseph, Buchanan County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 64507 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 17
First frostOct 19
2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Saint Joseph, 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 Saint Joseph, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season184 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 7 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Cosby 2w, MO — 8 miles away, elevation 909 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 64507

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 1 – May 15
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 17) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 64507 came on Mar 7 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21).

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 6a in Missouri

516 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Missouri, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

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 82

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °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 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 190

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 155

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 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Saint Joseph, MO.

Soil in Saint Joseph, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 64507 is Colo — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Colo silty clay loam, heavy till, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally 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 64507; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Joseph, MO

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days33days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights130nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,638base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation38 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 30 °F 53°30° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.98 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 2.38 in precipitation 2.4 MarApril: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 5.39 in precipitation 5.4 MayJune: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 5.01 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 NovDecember: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cosby 2w, MO (8 mi away); precipitation: St. Joseph 4.4 E, MO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

644436a
Easton, MO · 5 mi
645066a
Saint Joseph, MO · 5 mi
645036a
Saint Joseph, MO · 6 mi
645016a
Saint Joseph, MO · 6 mi
645026a
Saint Joseph, MO · 6 mi
644016a
Agency, MO · 7 mi
645086a
Saint Joseph, MO · 7 mi
660246a
Elwood, KS · 8 mi

All 8 ZIP codes in Saint Joseph → · Missouri planting zones →

Questions about 64507

What planting zone is ZIP code 64507?

ZIP code 64507 (Saint Joseph, MO) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Saint Joseph, MO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 64507 is April 17; after May 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cosby 2w station.

When is the first frost in Saint Joseph, MO?

The median first fall frost near 64507 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 184 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 64507?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 20 – Mar 6 and set transplants outside around Apr 24 – May 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 64507 get?

About 38 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, St. Joseph 4.4 E station).

How hot do summers get in Saint Joseph, MO?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 33 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 64507 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Colo at the center of ZIP 64507: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Saint Joseph, MO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 64507 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Joseph, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 64507 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 64507 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 64507 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.