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

Planting zone for 97436 — Elkton, OR

ZIP code 97436 (Elkton, Douglas County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost November 6.

Where ZIP 97436 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 11
First frostNov 6
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 Elkton, 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 Elkton, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season209 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 26 and returns around November 30.

From the NOAA station Elkton 1sw, OR — within 1 mile, elevation 125 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 97436

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 97436 came on Feb 16 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11).

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 Elkton, OR.

Soil in Elkton, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97436 is Chapman — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Chapman-Chehalis complex, 0 to 3 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 97436; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elkton, OR

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, February
Hot days39days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights51nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,509base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation47.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 51 °F, low 36 °F 51°36° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 43 °F 72°43° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 48 °F 77°48° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 50 °F 86°50° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 51 °F 85°51° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 46 °F 81°46° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 39 °F 56°39° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 36 °F 49°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 7.00 in precipitation 7.0 JanFebruary: 5.58 in precipitation 5.6 FebMarch: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 2.56 in precipitation 2.6 MayJune: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 JunJuly: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.35 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 6.98 in precipitation 7.0 NovDecember: 9.05 in precipitation 9.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elkton 1sw, OR (within 1 mile); precipitation: Elkton 1sw, OR (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

974358b
Drain, OR · 13 mi
974628b
Oakland, OR · 14 mi
974739a
Scottsburg, OR · 17 mi
974679a
Reedsport, OR · 17 mi
974518b
Lorane, OR · 20 mi
974869a
Umpqua, OR · 20 mi
974948b
Wilbur, OR · 25 mi
974878b
Veneta, OR · 26 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97436

What planting zone is ZIP code 97436?

ZIP code 97436 (Elkton, 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 Elkton, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97436 is April 11; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elkton 1sw station.

When is the first frost in Elkton, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97436 is November 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 209 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97436?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97436 get?

About 47.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elkton 1sw station).

How hot do summers get in Elkton, OR?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 39 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97436 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Chapman at the center of ZIP 97436: loam, well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Elkton, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97436 came on Feb 16 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Elkton, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97436 is 15 h 26 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).