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

Planting zone for 97526 — Grants Pass, OR

ZIP code 97526 (Grants Pass, Josephine County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 97526 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 frostMay 16
First frostOct 30
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 Grants Pass, 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 Grants Pass, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season164 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around November 17.

From the NOAA station Sexton Summit, OR — 4 miles away, elevation 3,832 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 97526

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 97526 came on Feb 17 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 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 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 Grants Pass, OR.

Soil in Grants Pass, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97526 is Jumpoff — slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Jumpoff clay loam, 35 to 50 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 97526; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Grants Pass, OR

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, December
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights90nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,836base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 33 °F 43°33° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 33 °F 44°33° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 33 °F 46°33° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° MayJune: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 43 °F 58°43° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 36 °F 47°36° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 32 °F 41°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.92 in precipitation 5.9 JanFebruary: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 FebMarch: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 2.56 in precipitation 2.6 AprMay: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 MayJune: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.30 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 SepOctober: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 NovDecember: 7.38 in precipitation 7.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sexton Summit, OR (4 mi away); precipitation: Merlin 1.7 N, OR (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

975288b
Grants Pass, OR · 7 mi
975378b
Rogue River, OR · 10 mi
974978b
Wolf Creek, OR · 10 mi
975278b
Grants Pass, OR · 11 mi
975438b
Wilderville, OR · 16 mi
975258b
Gold Hill, OR · 16 mi
975328b
Merlin, OR · 16 mi
974428b
Glendale, OR · 17 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Grants Pass → · Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97526

What planting zone is ZIP code 97526?

ZIP code 97526 (Grants Pass, 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 Grants Pass, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97526 is May 16; after June 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sexton Summit station.

When is the first frost in Grants Pass, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97526 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 164 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97526?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97526 get?

About 36.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Merlin 1.7 N station).

How hot do summers get in Grants Pass, OR?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97526 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jumpoff at the center of ZIP 97526: slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Grants Pass, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97526 came on Feb 17 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Grants Pass, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97526 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).