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

Planting zone for 97473 — Scottsburg, OR

ZIP code 97473 (Scottsburg, Douglas County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost November 24.

Where ZIP 97473 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 frostMar 25
First frostNov 24
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 Scottsburg, 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 Scottsburg, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 24median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season249 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 17 and returns around December 26.

From the NOAA station Winchester Bay Coast Grd, OR — 13 miles away, elevation 7 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 97473

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 29 – Oct 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 10 – Dec 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 24) 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 97473 came on Feb 5 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 12).

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).

Soil in Scottsburg, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97473 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-Bohannon-Umpcoos complex, 60 to 90 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 97473; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Scottsburg, OR

Summer high71 °Faverage high, September
Winter low39 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights19nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,733base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 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

30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 54 °F, low 39 °F 54°39° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 39 °F 55°39° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 40 °F 56°40° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 42 °F 59°42° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 46 °F 63°46° MayJune: average high 66 °F, low 49 °F 66°49° JunJuly: average high 70 °F, low 52 °F 70°52° JulAugust: average high 70 °F, low 52 °F 70°52° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°46° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 42 °F 58°42° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 39 °F 53°39° 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: Winchester Bay Coast Grd, OR (13 mi away); precipitation: Elkton 1sw, OR (17 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

974679a
Reedsport, OR · 3 mi
974499a
Lakeside, OR · 11 mi
974419a
Gardiner, OR · 13 mi
974939a
Westlake, OR · 16 mi
974369a
Elkton, OR · 17 mi
974079a
Allegany, OR · 19 mi
974599a
North Bend, OR · 20 mi
974539a
Mapleton, OR · 20 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97473

What planting zone is ZIP code 97473?

ZIP code 97473 (Scottsburg, 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 Scottsburg, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97473 is March 25; after April 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Winchester Bay Coast Grd station.

When is the first frost in Scottsburg, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97473 is November 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 249 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97473?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 28 – Feb 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 1 – Apr 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97473 get?

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

How hot do summers get in Scottsburg, OR?

The average high peaks at 71 °F in September, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97473 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Digger at the center of ZIP 97473: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Scottsburg, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97473 came on Feb 5 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Scottsburg, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97473 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).