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

Planting zone for 89520 — Reno, NV

ZIP code 89520 (Reno, Washoe County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 28 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 89520 is

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 frostApr 28
First frostOct 27
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 Reno, NV…

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 Reno, NV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Reno WFO, NV — 3 miles away, elevation 4,987 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 89520

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 12 – May 26
BeansSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 89520 came on Mar 1 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 Nevada

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

Trees 29

Arizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FCalifornia red fir150 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FDouglas-fir200 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 103

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbigtooth maple38 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −31 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 248

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 133

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Farctic bluegrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −62 °F

Vines 1

western white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Reno, NV.

Soil in Reno, NV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 89520 is Orr — gravelly sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Orr gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes.

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 89520; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Reno, NV

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days60days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights102nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,395base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 58 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 22 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation9.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall33 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 54 °F 83°54° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 61 °F 93°61° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 60 °F 91°60° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 53 °F 82°53° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 1.39 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 1.4❄7 JanFebruary: 1.28 in precipitation, 9.6 in snowfall 1.3❄10 FebMarch: 1.17 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 1.2❄6 MarApril: 0.64 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 0.6❄1 AprMay: 0.67 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.7 MayJune: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.22 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.59 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.6 OctNovember: 0.75 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 0.8❄3 NovDecember: 1.39 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 1.4❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Reno WFO, NV (3 mi away); precipitation: Reno 1.4 Nne, NV (2 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.

895047b
Reno, NV · <1 mi
895157b
Reno, NV · <1 mi
895707b
Reno, NV · <1 mi
895957b
Reno, NV · <1 mi
895997a
Reno, NV · <1 mi
895137b
Reno, NV · <1 mi
895017b
Reno, NV · <1 mi
895557b
Reno, NV · <1 mi

All 24 ZIP codes in Reno → · Nevada planting zones →

Questions about 89520

What planting zone is ZIP code 89520?

ZIP code 89520 (Reno, NV) 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 Reno, NV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 89520 is April 28; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Reno WFO station.

When is the first frost in Reno, NV?

The median first fall frost near 89520 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 182 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 89520?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 3 – Mar 17 and set transplants outside around May 5 – May 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 89520 get?

About 9.2 inches of precipitation a year and 33 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Reno 1.4 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Reno, NV?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 60 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 89520 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Orr at the center of ZIP 89520: gravelly sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Reno, NV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 89520 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Reno, NV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 89520 is 14 h 58 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 89520 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 89520 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.