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

Planting zone for 89704 — Washoe Valley, NV

ZIP code 89704 (Washoe Valley, Washoe County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 89704 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 frostMay 12
First frostOct 17
2012 zone7a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Washoe Valley, 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 Washoe Valley, NV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Virginia City, NV — 8 miles away, elevation 6,339 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 89704

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 89704 came on Mar 9 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20).

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 Nevada

520 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nevada, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. 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 132

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 Washoe Valley, NV.

Soil in Washoe Valley, NV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 89704 is Godecke — fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.8alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter0.65%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importance, if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Godecke loamy sand.

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 89704; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Washoe Valley, NV

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, December
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights120nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,606base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation15.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 27 °F 41°27° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 29 °F 43°29° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 33 °F 49°33° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 33 °F 49°33° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 26 °F 40°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 JanFebruary: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 2.15 in precipitation 2.1 MarApril: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 MayJune: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 JulAugust: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.95 in precipitation 0.9 NovDecember: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Virginia City, NV (8 mi away); precipitation: Carson City 4.4 N, NV (5 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.

897067b
Carson City, NV · 6 mi
894407a
Virginia City, NV · 7 mi
897117a
Carson City, NV · 7 mi
897127a
Carson City, NV · 7 mi
897137a
Carson City, NV · 7 mi
897147a
Carson City, NV · 7 mi
897217a
Carson City, NV · 7 mi
894507a
Incline Village, NV · 8 mi

Nevada planting zones →

Questions about 89704

What planting zone is ZIP code 89704?

ZIP code 89704 (Washoe Valley, NV) 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 Washoe Valley, NV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 89704 is May 12; after June 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Virginia City station.

When is the first frost in Washoe Valley, NV?

The median first fall frost near 89704 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 155 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 89704?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 89704 get?

About 15.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carson City 4.4 N station).

How hot do summers get in Washoe Valley, NV?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 89704 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Godecke at the center of ZIP 89704: fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 8.8 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Washoe Valley, NV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 89704 came on Mar 9 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Washoe Valley, NV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 89704 is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.