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

Planting zone for 97834 — Halfway, OR

ZIP code 97834 (Halfway, Baker County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 24.

Where ZIP 97834 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 15
First frostSep 24
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — a full zone warmer now. 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 Halfway, 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 Halfway, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 24median — 10% chance by Sep 9
Growing season130 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Halfway, OR — 12 miles away, elevation 2,654 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 97834

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 30 – Aug 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 10 – Oct 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 24) 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 97834 came on May 2 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 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 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 Halfway, OR.

Soil in Halfway, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97834 is Angelbasin — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

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

Map unit: Angelbasin-Elkhorncrest-Rock outcrop complex, 30 to 60 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 97834; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Halfway, OR

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights179nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,282base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation47 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 32 °F, low 19 °F 32°19° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 22 °F 39°22° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 34 °F 62°34° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 41 °F 71°41° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 52 °F 90°52° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 50 °F 89°50° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 42 °F 79°42° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 33 °F 63°33° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 20 °F 33°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 7.78 in precipitation 7.8 JanFebruary: 5.84 in precipitation 5.8 FebMarch: 5.60 in precipitation 5.6 MarApril: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 JunJuly: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 JulAugust: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 SepOctober: 2.48 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 5.68 in precipitation 5.7 NovDecember: 9.24 in precipitation 9.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Halfway, OR (12 mi away); precipitation: Schneider Meadows, OR (4 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.

978706b
Richland, OR · 17 mi
978466a
Joseph, OR · 18 mi
978407a
Oxbow, OR · 19 mi
978836b
Union, OR · 22 mi
978576a
Lostine, OR · 27 mi
836107a
Cambridge, ID · 30 mi
979056b
Durkee, OR · 33 mi
978287a
Enterprise, OR · 35 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97834

What planting zone is ZIP code 97834?

ZIP code 97834 (Halfway, 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 Halfway, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97834 is May 15; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Halfway station.

When is the first frost in Halfway, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97834 is September 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 130 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97834?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97834 get?

About 47 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Schneider Meadows station).

How hot do summers get in Halfway, OR?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 47 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97834 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Angelbasin at the center of ZIP 97834: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Halfway, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97834 came on May 2 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Halfway, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97834 is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 97834 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 97834 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.