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

Planting zone for 97539 — Shady Cove, OR

ZIP code 97539 (Shady Cove, Jackson County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 97539 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 frostApr 29
First frostOct 17
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 Shady Cove, 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 Shady Cove, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Lost Creek Dam, OR — 9 miles away, elevation 1,581 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 97539

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 97539 came on Feb 14 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 26).

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 Shady Cove, OR.

Soil in Shady Cove, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97539 is McMullin — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: McMullin-Medco complex, 12 to 50 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 97539; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shady Cove, OR

Summer high91 °Faverage high, August
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days57days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,697base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 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)
Precipitation31.4 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 49 °F, low 31 °F 49°31° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 43 °F 72°43° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 47 °F 80°47° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 52 °F 90°52° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 51 °F 91°51° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 45 °F 84°45° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 38 °F 70°38° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 31 °F 47°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 6.05 in precipitation 6.0 JanFebruary: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 MarApril: 2.38 in precipitation 2.4 AprMay: 1.71 in precipitation 1.7 MayJune: 1.17 in precipitation 1.2 JunJuly: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 SepOctober: 2.10 in precipitation 2.1 OctNovember: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 NovDecember: 6.51 in precipitation 6.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lost Creek Dam, OR (9 mi away); precipitation: Shady Cove 0.2 S, OR (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

975038b
White City, OR · 7 mi
975248a
Eagle Point, OR · 10 mi
975418a
Trail, OR · 14 mi
975028b
Central Point, OR · 14 mi
975048b
Medford, OR · 17 mi
975258b
Gold Hill, OR · 17 mi
975378b
Rogue River, OR · 18 mi
975018b
Medford, OR · 21 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97539

What planting zone is ZIP code 97539?

ZIP code 97539 (Shady Cove, 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 Shady Cove, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97539 is April 29; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lost Creek Dam station.

When is the first frost in Shady Cove, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97539 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 171 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97539?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97539 get?

About 31.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shady Cove 0.2 S station).

How hot do summers get in Shady Cove, OR?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in August, with about 57 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97539 have?

The USDA soil survey maps McMullin at the center of ZIP 97539: gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Shady Cove, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97539 came on Feb 14 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shady Cove, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97539 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).