Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 65276 — Pilot Grove, MO

ZIP code 65276 (Pilot Grove, Cooper County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 65276 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F

Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C

Last frostApr 5

First frostOct 29

2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pilot Grove, 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 Pilot Grove, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostApril 5median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsApril 19only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 16

Growing season206 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Boonville, MO — 14 miles away, elevation 745 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 65276

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8

SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 15

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29

LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29

TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22

TomatoesTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3

BeansSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26

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 5) 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 65276 came on Feb 28 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17).

average
Mar 172026
Feb 28

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 6b in Missouri

525 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 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

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 Pilot Grove, MO.

Soil in Pilot Grove, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 65276 is Goss — very gravelly silt loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables

pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter2%moderate

Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Goss very gravelly silt loam, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very stony.

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 65276; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pilot Grove, MO

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July

Winter low21 °Faverage low, January

Hot days50days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights105nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days4,238base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully

Precipitation41 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall13 inper year

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Boonville, MO (14 mi away); precipitation: Boonville, MO (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

653226b

Blackwater, MO · 8 mi

653486b

Otterville, MO · 10 mi

Boonville, MO · 13 mi

652506b

Franklin, MO · 14 mi

653206b

Arrow Rock, MO · 15 mi

653546b

Syracuse, MO · 15 mi

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about 65276

What planting zone is ZIP code 65276?

ZIP code 65276 (Pilot Grove, MO) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Pilot Grove, MO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 65276 is April 5; after April 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boonville station.

When is the first frost in Pilot Grove, MO?

The median first fall frost near 65276 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 206 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 65276?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 8 – Feb 22 and set transplants outside around Apr 12 – Apr 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 65276 get?

About 41 inches of precipitation a year and 13 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boonville station).

How hot do summers get in Pilot Grove, 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 65276 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Goss at the center of ZIP 65276: very gravelly silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Pilot Grove, MO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 65276 came on Feb 28 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pilot Grove, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 65276 is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 65276 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 65276 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.