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

Planting zone for 97536 — Prospect, OR

ZIP code 97536 (Prospect, Jackson County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 97536 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostMay 19
First frostOct 3
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Prospect, 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 Prospect, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Prospect 2 Sw, OR — 4 miles away, elevation 2,484 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 97536

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
BeansSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 97536 came on Feb 15 — 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15).

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 8a in Oregon

654 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oregon, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 41

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 129

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 303

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 Prospect, OR.

Soil in Prospect, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97536 is Barhiskey — slightly decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Barhiskey gravelly loamy sand, 0 to 3 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 97536; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Prospect, OR

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days43days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights116nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,429base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall21 inper year; 18 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 41 °F 71°41° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 45 °F 78°45° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 50 °F 89°50° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 49 °F 89°49° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 44 °F 84°44° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 38 °F 70°38° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.97 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 6.0❄8 JanFebruary: 4.42 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 4.4❄3 FebMarch: 4.38 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 4.4❄2 MarApril: 3.71 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.7❄1 AprMay: 2.59 in precipitation 2.6 MayJune: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 JunJuly: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 JulAugust: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 AugSeptember: 1.16 in precipitation 1.2 SepOctober: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 6.31 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 6.3❄3 NovDecember: 7.20 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 7.2❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Prospect 2 Sw, OR (4 mi away); precipitation: Prospect 2 Sw, OR (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

975228a
Butte Falls, OR · 11 mi
975418a
Trail, OR · 13 mi
976046b
Crater Lake, OR · 20 mi
975398a
Shady Cove, OR · 21 mi
974848b
Tiller, OR · 21 mi
975248a
Eagle Point, OR · 23 mi
976266b
Fort Klamath, OR · 25 mi
975038b
White City, OR · 25 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97536

What planting zone is ZIP code 97536?

ZIP code 97536 (Prospect, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Prospect, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97536 is May 19; after June 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Prospect 2 Sw station.

When is the first frost in Prospect, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97536 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97536?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 24 – Apr 7 and set transplants outside around May 26 – Jun 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97536 get?

About 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 21 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Prospect 2 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Prospect, OR?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 43 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97536 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Barhiskey at the center of ZIP 97536: slightly decomposed plant material, excessively drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Prospect, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97536 came on Feb 15 in 2026, 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Prospect, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97536 is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).