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

Planting zone for 97737 — Gilchrist, OR

ZIP code 97737 (Gilchrist, Klamath County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is June 7 and the first fall frost September 18.

Where ZIP 97737 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 7
First frostSep 18
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 Gilchrist, 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 Gilchrist, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJuly 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 18median — 10% chance by Sep 3
Growing season100 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 16 and returns around October 3.

From the NOAA station Wickiup Dam, OR — 13 miles away, elevation 4,357 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 97737

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 10 – May 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 17 – May 31
LettuceSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 21 – Jul 5
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 24 – Aug 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 4 – Oct 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 7) and first fall frost (Sep 18) 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 97737 came on Mar 28 — 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 6a in Oregon

607 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 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 39

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 113

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 284

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 160

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 Gilchrist, OR.

Soil in Gilchrist, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97737 is Lapine — slightly decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Lapine gravelly loamy coarse sand, 0 to 15 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 97737; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gilchrist, OR

Summer high74 °Faverage high, August
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights211nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days800base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall191 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° MarApril: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° AprMay: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° MayJune: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° JunJuly: average high 73 °F, low 44 °F 73°44° JulAugust: average high 74 °F, low 42 °F 74°42° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 36 °F 68°36° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 20 °F 34°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 5.73 in precipitation, 48.8 in snowfall 5.7❄49 JanFebruary: 4.70 in precipitation, 28.6 in snowfall 4.7❄29 FebMarch: 3.34 in precipitation, 22 in snowfall 3.3❄22 MarApril: 1.91 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 1.9❄7 AprMay: 1.84 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 1.8❄1 MayJune: 1.02 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.0 JunJuly: 0.52 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 AugSeptember: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 SepOctober: 2.62 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.6 OctNovember: 4.69 in precipitation, 22.7 in snowfall 4.7❄23 NovDecember: 6.05 in precipitation, 60.4 in snowfall 6.0❄60 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Odell Lake-East, OR (11 mi away); precipitation: Odell Lake-East, OR (11 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.

977336b
Crescent, OR · 10 mi
977396b
La Pine, OR · 18 mi
977076a
Bend, OR · 26 mi
977096b
Bend, OR · 28 mi
977316a
Chemult, OR · 29 mi
974638b
Oakridge, OR · 35 mi
974478b
Idleyld Park, OR · 40 mi
976046b
Crater Lake, OR · 42 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97737

What planting zone is ZIP code 97737?

ZIP code 97737 (Gilchrist, 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 Gilchrist, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97737 is June 7; after July 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wickiup Dam station.

When is the first frost in Gilchrist, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97737 is September 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 100 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97737?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 12 – Apr 26 and set transplants outside around Jun 14 – Jun 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97737 get?

About 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 191 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Odell Lake-East station).

How hot do summers get in Gilchrist, OR?

The average high peaks at 74 °F in August, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97737 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lapine at the center of ZIP 97737: slightly decomposed plant material, excessively drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Gilchrist, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97737 came on Mar 28 in 2026, 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gilchrist, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97737 is 15 h 25 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).