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

Planting zone for 97444 — Gold Beach, OR

ZIP code 97444 (Gold Beach, Curry County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is February 16 and the first fall frost December 16.

Where ZIP 97444 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.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
Coldest night−3.9 to −1.1 °C
Last frostFeb 16
First frostDec 16
2012 zone9b

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 9b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gold 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 Gold Beach, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 16median — 10% chance by Nov 23
Growing season314 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 2 and returns around December 29.

From the NOAA station Gold Beach Rs, OR — 6 miles away, elevation 49 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 97444

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 5 – Jan 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 8 – Dec 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 22 – Jan 5
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 8 – Dec 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 2 – Mar 16
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 21 – Nov 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 2 – Jan 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 16) and first fall frost (Dec 16) 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 97444 came on Jan 27 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2).

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 9b in Oregon

673 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oregon, and rated by the USDA to survive 25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9b. 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 138

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 306

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 170

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 Gold Beach, OR.

Soil in Gold Beach, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97444 is Digger — 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: Digger-Remote-Rock outcrop complex, warm, 30 to 60 percent south 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 97444; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gold Beach, OR

Summer high69 °Faverage high, August
Winter low42 °Faverage low, February
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights5nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,835base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation75.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 55 °F, low 43 °F 55°43° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 42 °F 55°42° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 43 °F 57°43° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 44 °F 59°44° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 47 °F 62°47° MayJune: average high 65 °F, low 50 °F 65°50° JunJuly: average high 68 °F, low 53 °F 68°53° JulAugust: average high 69 °F, low 53 °F 69°53° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 52 °F 69°52° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 49 °F 64°49° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 45 °F 57°45° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 42 °F 54°42° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″14″January: 11.97 in precipitation 12.0 JanFebruary: 9.68 in precipitation 9.7 FebMarch: 10.31 in precipitation 10.3 MarApril: 7.09 in precipitation 7.1 AprMay: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 1.76 in precipitation 1.8 JunJuly: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 AugSeptember: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 10.69 in precipitation 10.7 NovDecember: 13.18 in precipitation 13.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gold Beach Rs, OR (6 mi away); precipitation: Gold Beach Rs, OR (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

974649b
Ophir, OR · 9 mi
974919b
Wedderburn, OR · 12 mi
974069a
Agness, OR · 20 mi
974659b
Port Orford, OR · 22 mi
974159b
Brookings, OR · 23 mi
974769b
Sixes, OR · 28 mi
974669a
Powers, OR · 31 mi
974509a
Langlois, OR · 32 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97444

What planting zone is ZIP code 97444?

ZIP code 97444 (Gold Beach, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 25 to 30 °F (−3.9 to −1.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Gold Beach, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97444 is February 16; after March 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gold Beach Rs station.

When is the first frost in Gold Beach, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97444 is December 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 314 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97444?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 22 – Jan 5 and set transplants outside around Feb 23 – Mar 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97444 get?

About 75.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gold Beach Rs station).

How hot do summers get in Gold 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 97444 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Digger at the center of ZIP 97444: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 97444 came on Jan 27 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gold Beach, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97444 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).