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

Planting zone for 98829 — Malott, WA

ZIP code 98829 (Malott, Okanogan County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 98829 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 frostApr 21
First frostOct 15
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 Malott, WA…

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 Malott, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 28 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Methow 2 S, WA — 16 miles away, elevation 1,135 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 98829

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 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 98829 came on Mar 27 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6).

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 Washington

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

Trees 31

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °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 °F

Shrubs 102

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FBarclay's willow15 ft · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 279

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 154

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 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Malott, WA.

Soil in Malott, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98829 is Leiko — slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Leiko ashy sandy loam, 3 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 98829; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Malott, WA

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights152nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,749base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation11.6 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 33 °F, low 22 °F 33°22° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 57 °F 89°57° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 56 °F 88°56° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 48 °F 79°48° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 30 °F 44°30° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 22 °F 32°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 JanFebruary: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 1.06 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 0.83 in precipitation 0.8 AprMay: 1.19 in precipitation 1.2 MayJune: 0.98 in precipitation 1.0 JunJuly: 0.52 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 SepOctober: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 1.24 in precipitation 1.2 NovDecember: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Methow 2 S, WA (16 mi away); precipitation: Omak Airport, WA (17 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.

988127a
Brewster, WA · 11 mi
988407a
Okanogan, WA · 13 mi
988347a
Methow, WA · 17 mi
988196b
Conconully, WA · 20 mi
988467a
Pateros, WA · 21 mi
988566b
Twisp, WA · 21 mi
988137a
Bridgeport, WA · 22 mi
988146b
Carlton, WA · 24 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98829

What planting zone is ZIP code 98829?

ZIP code 98829 (Malott, WA) 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 Malott, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98829 is April 21; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Methow 2 S station.

When is the first frost in Malott, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98829 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 177 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98829?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 24 – Mar 10 and set transplants outside around Apr 28 – May 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98829 get?

About 11.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Omak Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Malott, WA?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 37 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98829 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Leiko at the center of ZIP 98829: slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Malott, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98829 came on Mar 27 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Malott, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98829 is 16 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).