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

Planting zone for 97525 — Gold Hill, OR

ZIP code 97525 (Gold Hill, Jackson County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 97525 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 frostApr 8
First frostOct 29
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 Gold Hill, 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 Hill, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season204 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 10 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Medford Rogue Vly Airport, OR — 10 miles away, elevation 1,296 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 97525

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 97525 came on Feb 23 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19).

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 Gold Hill, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97525 is Evans, well drained.

pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Riverwash.

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 97525; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gold Hill, OR

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days61days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights64nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,326base 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)
Precipitation27.9 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 48 °F, low 33 °F 48°33° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 52 °F 82°52° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 59 °F 92°59° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 58 °F 91°58° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 51 °F 84°51° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 42 °F 70°42° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 36 °F 54°36° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 33 °F 46°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 JanFebruary: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 2.55 in precipitation 2.5 MarApril: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 AprMay: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 MayJune: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 JunJuly: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 SepOctober: 1.91 in precipitation 1.9 OctNovember: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 6.15 in precipitation 6.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Medford Rogue Vly Airport, OR (10 mi away); precipitation: Gold Hill 0.2 Wsw, OR (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

975028b
Central Point, OR · 6 mi
975378b
Rogue River, OR · 9 mi
975018b
Medford, OR · 13 mi
975288b
Grants Pass, OR · 14 mi
975038b
White City, OR · 14 mi
975048b
Medford, OR · 15 mi
975268b
Grants Pass, OR · 16 mi
975358b
Phoenix, OR · 17 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97525

What planting zone is ZIP code 97525?

ZIP code 97525 (Gold Hill, 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 Gold Hill, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97525 is April 8; after April 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Medford Rogue Vly Airport station.

When is the first frost in Gold Hill, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97525 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 204 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97525?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 11 – Feb 25 and set transplants outside around Apr 15 – Apr 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97525 get?

About 27.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gold Hill 0.2 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Gold Hill, OR?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 61 days a year at 90 °F or more.

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

Spring leaf-out near 97525 came on Feb 23 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gold Hill, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97525 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).