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

Planting zone for 97843 — Ione, OR

ZIP code 97843 (Ione, Morrow County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 97843 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 19
2012 zone7a

Was 7a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ione, 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 Ione, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 2 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Heppner, OR — 18 miles away, elevation 1,887 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 97843

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 97843 came on Mar 4 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 7b in Oregon

627 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 7b. 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 120

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 292

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 164

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 Ione, OR.

Soil in Ione, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97843 is Lickskillet — very stony loam, well drained.

TextureVery stony loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lickskillet very stony loam, 7 to 40 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 97843; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ione, OR

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, December
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights106nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,521base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation13.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall13 inper year; 15 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 55 °F 87°55° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 48 °F 77°48° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 27 °F 43°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 1.32 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 1.3❄3 JanFebruary: 1.07 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 1.1❄3 FebMarch: 1.36 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.4❄1 MarApril: 1.46 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.5 AprMay: 1.71 in precipitation 1.7 MayJune: 1.35 in precipitation 1.4 JunJuly: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 SepOctober: 1.17 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.2 OctNovember: 1.37 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.4❄1 NovDecember: 1.26 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 1.3❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Heppner, OR (18 mi away); precipitation: Heppner, OR (18 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.

978397a
Lexington, OR · 14 mi
978617b
Mikkalo, OR · 16 mi
978127b
Arlington, OR · 19 mi
978187b
Boardman, OR · 19 mi
978237a
Condon, OR · 23 mi
978367a
Heppner, OR · 23 mi
978447b
Irrigon, OR · 31 mi
993457b
Paterson, WA · 32 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97843

What planting zone is ZIP code 97843?

ZIP code 97843 (Ione, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Ione, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97843 is April 26; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Heppner station.

When is the first frost in Ione, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97843 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 174 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97843?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97843 get?

About 13.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Heppner station).

How hot do summers get in Ione, OR?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 28 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97843 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lickskillet at the center of ZIP 97843: very stony loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ione, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97843 came on Mar 4 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ione, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97843 is 15 h 41 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 97843 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 97843 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.