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

Planting zone for 97626 — Fort Klamath, OR

ZIP code 97626 (Fort Klamath, Klamath County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 97626 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 19
First frostOct 3
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fort Klamath, 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 Fort Klamath, 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 — 25 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 97626

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 97626 came on Mar 19 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 6b in Oregon

613 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oregon, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 40

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 114

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 287

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 161

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 Fort Klamath, OR.

Soil in Fort Klamath, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97626 is Kirk — ashy loam, poorly drained.

TextureAshy loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Kirk-Chock, brief flooding complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 97626; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Klamath, OR

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights216nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,357base 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)
Precipitation21.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall61 inper year; 84 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 22 °F 44°22° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 25 °F 50°25° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 28 °F 57°28° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 33 °F 66°33° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 37 °F 75°37° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 42 °F 85°42° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 41 °F 84°41° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 34 °F 78°34° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 28 °F 64°28° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 24 °F 48°24° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.78 in precipitation, 13.5 in snowfall 3.8❄14 JanFebruary: 2.25 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 2.3❄10 FebMarch: 1.94 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 1.9❄8 MarApril: 1.42 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 1.4❄3 AprMay: 1.49 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.5 MayJune: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 SepOctober: 1.37 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.4 OctNovember: 2.83 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 2.8❄8 NovDecember: 4.36 in precipitation, 19.1 in snowfall 4.4❄19 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chiloquin 12 Nw (Fort Klamath), OR (2 mi away); precipitation: Chiloquin 12 Nw (Fort Klamath), OR (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

976246a
Chiloquin, OR · 15 mi
976017a
Klamath Falls, OR · 20 mi
976046b
Crater Lake, OR · 20 mi
975228a
Butte Falls, OR · 22 mi
975368a
Prospect, OR · 25 mi
977316a
Chemult, OR · 26 mi
976256b
Dairy, OR · 36 mi
976026b
Klamath Falls, OR · 37 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97626

What planting zone is ZIP code 97626?

ZIP code 97626 (Fort Klamath, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Fort Klamath, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97626 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 Fort Klamath, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97626 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97626?

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 97626 get?

About 21.1 inches of precipitation a year and 61 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chiloquin 12 Nw (Fort Klamath) station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Klamath, OR?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97626 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kirk at the center of ZIP 97626: ashy loam, poorly drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Fort Klamath, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97626 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Klamath, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97626 is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).