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

Planting zone for 97495 — Winchester, OR

ZIP code 97495 (Winchester, Douglas County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost November 5.

Where ZIP 97495 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 31
First frostNov 5
2012 zone8b

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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Winchester, 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 Winchester, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season215 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 26 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Winchester, OR — 2 miles away, elevation 459 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 97495

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 5) 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 97495 came on Feb 17 — 3 days later 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 8b in Oregon

661 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oregon, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 43

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 132

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 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 Winchester, OR.

Soil in Winchester, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97495 is Dixonville — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dixonville silty clay loam, 30 to 60 percent north 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 97495; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Winchester, OR

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days25days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights38nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,741base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.2 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 50 °F, low 35 °F 50°35° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 54 °F 86°54° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 49 °F 81°49° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 38 °F 56°38° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 35 °F 49°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.41 in precipitation 5.4 JanFebruary: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 FebMarch: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 MayJune: 1.11 in precipitation 1.1 JunJuly: 0.29 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.30 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.94 in precipitation 0.9 SepOctober: 2.55 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 5.26 in precipitation 5.3 NovDecember: 6.81 in precipitation 6.8 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

974948b
Wilbur, OR · 3 mi
974708b
Roseburg, OR · 4 mi
974719a
Roseburg, OR · 10 mi
974798b
Sutherlin, OR · 10 mi
974869a
Umpqua, OR · 12 mi
974628b
Oakland, OR · 15 mi
974578b
Myrtle Creek, OR · 16 mi
974438b
Glide, OR · 16 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97495

What planting zone is ZIP code 97495?

ZIP code 97495 (Winchester, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Winchester, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97495 is March 31; after April 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Winchester station.

When is the first frost in Winchester, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97495 is November 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 215 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97495?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 3 – Feb 17 and set transplants outside around Apr 7 – Apr 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97495 get?

About 36.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Winchester station).

How hot do summers get in Winchester, OR?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 25 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97495 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dixonville at the center of ZIP 97495: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Winchester, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97495 came on Feb 17 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Winchester, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97495 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).