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

Planting zone for 97136 — Rockaway Beach, OR

ZIP code 97136 (Rockaway Beach, Tillamook County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 97136 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostApr 22
First frostOct 21
2012 zone9a

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 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rockaway Beach, 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 Rockaway Beach, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 22 and returns around November 15.

From the NOAA station Tillamook, OR — 12 miles away, elevation 13 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 97136

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 97136 came on Feb 3 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14).

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 9a in Oregon

666 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oregon, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 44

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 °FBishop pine90 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to 17 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Shrubs 133

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 305

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 169

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 Rockaway Beach, OR.

Soil in Rockaway Beach, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97136 is Templeton — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Templeton-Klootchie complex, 30 to 60 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 97136; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rockaway Beach, OR

Summer high69 °Faverage high, August
Winter low36 °Faverage low, February
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights47nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,314base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation112.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 52 °F, low 37 °F 52°37° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 37 °F 55°37° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 44 °F 61°44° MayJune: average high 64 °F, low 48 °F 64°48° JunJuly: average high 68 °F, low 50 °F 68°50° JulAugust: average high 69 °F, low 50 °F 69°50° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 39 °F 56°39° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 36 °F 51°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″14″16″18″January: 16.74 in precipitation 16.7 JanFebruary: 12.11 in precipitation 12.1 FebMarch: 14.16 in precipitation 14.2 MarApril: 9.74 in precipitation 9.7 AprMay: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 JulAugust: 1.17 in precipitation 1.2 AugSeptember: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 9.71 in precipitation 9.7 OctNovember: 17.03 in precipitation 17.0 NovDecember: 17.94 in precipitation 17.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tillamook, OR (12 mi away); precipitation: Nehalem 4.1 Ese, OR (7 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.

971479a
Wheeler, OR · 4 mi
971079a
Bay City, OR · 5 mi
971189a
Garibaldi, OR · 5 mi
971309a
Manzanita, OR · 6 mi
971318b
Nehalem, OR · 7 mi
971029a
Arch Cape, OR · 11 mi
971349a
Oceanside, OR · 12 mi
971419a
Tillamook, OR · 12 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97136

What planting zone is ZIP code 97136?

ZIP code 97136 (Rockaway Beach, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Rockaway Beach, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97136 is April 22; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tillamook station.

When is the first frost in Rockaway Beach, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97136 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97136?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 25 – Mar 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 29 – May 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97136 get?

About 112.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nehalem 4.1 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Rockaway Beach, OR?

The average high peaks at 69 °F in August, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97136 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Templeton at the center of ZIP 97136: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Rockaway Beach, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97136 came on Feb 3 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rockaway Beach, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97136 is 15 h 42 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).