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

Planting zone for 97064 — Vernonia, OR

ZIP code 97064 (Vernonia, Columbia County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 97064 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostMay 8
First frostOct 1
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Vernonia, OR…

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 Vernonia, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 11
Growing season144 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Vernonia #2, OR — 2 miles away, elevation 627 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 97064

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 97064 came on Mar 2 — 8 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 8a in Oregon

654 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oregon, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 41

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fbigleaf maple60 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −14 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FBrewer spruce100 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Shrubs 129

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf 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 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 303

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 166

Alaska brome5 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −18 °FAlaska 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 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 2

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fwestern 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 Vernonia, OR.

Soil in Vernonia, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97064 is Mayger — slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mayger silt loam, 3 to 30 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 97064; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Vernonia, OR

Summer high78 °Faverage high, August
Winter low31 °Faverage low, February
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights99nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,476base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 39 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation48 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 32 °F 46°32° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 31 °F 49°31° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 47 °F 77°47° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 47 °F 78°47° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 43 °F 73°43° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 34 °F 51°34° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 31 °F 44°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.94 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 6.9 JanFebruary: 5.34 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 5.3❄1 FebMarch: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 2.39 in precipitation 2.4 MayJune: 1.44 in precipitation 1.4 JunJuly: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 AugSeptember: 1.79 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 7.70 in precipitation 7.7 NovDecember: 8.33 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 8.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vernonia #2, OR (2 mi away); precipitation: Vernonia #2, OR (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

971098b
Buxton, OR · 9 mi
971448b
Timber, OR · 9 mi
970168b
Clatskanie, OR · 13 mi
970568b
Scappoose, OR · 13 mi
971258b
Manning, OR · 14 mi
971068b
Banks, OR · 15 mi
970518b
Saint Helens, OR · 15 mi
971338b
North Plains, OR · 16 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97064

What planting zone is ZIP code 97064?

ZIP code 97064 (Vernonia, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Vernonia, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97064 is May 8; after May 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vernonia #2 station.

When is the first frost in Vernonia, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97064 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 144 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97064?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97064 get?

About 48 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vernonia #2 station).

How hot do summers get in Vernonia, OR?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in August, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97064 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mayger at the center of ZIP 97064: slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Vernonia, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97064 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Vernonia, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97064 is 15 h 44 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).