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

Planting zone for 97638 — Silver Lake, OR

ZIP code 97638 (Silver Lake, Lake County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is June 8 and the first fall frost September 15.

Where ZIP 97638 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostJun 8
First frostSep 15
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Silver Lake, 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 Silver Lake, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 15median — 10% chance by Aug 31
Growing season96 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 18 and returns around September 29.

From the NOAA station Summer Lake 1 S, OR — 17 miles away, elevation 4,193 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 97638

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 11 – May 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
LettuceSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 15 – Jun 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 22 – Jul 6
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 15 – Jun 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 15 – Jun 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 15 – Jun 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 21 – Aug 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 1 – Oct 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 8) and first fall frost (Sep 15) 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 97638 came on Mar 19 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 Silver Lake, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97638 is Paulina — moderately decomposed plant material, very poorly drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter40%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Paulina-Chinarise complex, 0 to 4 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 97638; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Silver Lake, OR

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, December
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights208nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,491base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation10.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 22 °F 45°22° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 24 °F 51°24° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 28 °F 56°28° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 34 °F 66°34° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 39 °F 74°39° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 45 °F 85°45° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 43 °F 84°43° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 36 °F 76°36° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 29 °F 63°29° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 23 °F 48°23° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 1.17 in precipitation 1.2 MarApril: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 AprMay: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 MayJune: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 JunJuly: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 SepOctober: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 OctNovember: 0.82 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

977356a
Fort Rock, OR · 17 mi
976416a
Christmas Valley, OR · 26 mi
976406b
Summer Lake, OR · 27 mi
976366b
Paisley, OR · 41 mi
977316a
Chemult, OR · 42 mi
977396b
La Pine, OR · 43 mi
977376a
Gilchrist, OR · 44 mi
976216a
Beatty, OR · 46 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97638

What planting zone is ZIP code 97638?

ZIP code 97638 (Silver Lake, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Silver Lake, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97638 is June 8; after June 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Summer Lake 1 S station.

When is the first frost in Silver Lake, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97638 is September 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 96 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97638?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 13 – Apr 27 and set transplants outside around Jun 15 – Jun 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97638 get?

About 10.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Silver Lake Rs station).

How hot do summers get in Silver Lake, OR?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97638 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Paulina at the center of ZIP 97638: moderately decomposed plant material, very poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Silver Lake, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97638 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Silver Lake, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97638 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).