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

Planting zone for Chambersburg, PA

Chambersburg, PA is in USDA zone 7a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 25.

Chambersburg on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 18
First frostOct 25
Growing season188 days

7a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Chambersburg, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season188 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Chambersburg 1 Ese, PA, elevation 640 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 Chambersburg

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 17201 came on Mar 18 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 7a in Pennsylvania

620 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 123

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 212

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 181

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Chambersburg, PA.

Soil in Chambersburg, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17201 is Weikert — channery silt loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Weikert channery silt loam, 15 to 25 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 17201; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chambersburg, PA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,351base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 20 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall31 inper year; 31 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 32 °F 50°32° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 27 °F 41°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.21 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 3.2❄10 JanFebruary: 2.61 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 2.6❄8 FebMarch: 3.61 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 3.6❄6 MarApril: 3.98 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.0 AprMay: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.12 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.1❄1 NovDecember: 3.45 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 3.5❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chambersburg 1 Ese, PA (2 mi away); precipitation: Chambersburg 1 Ese, PA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Chambersburg

172017a
0 to 5 °F
172027a
0 to 5 °F

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about Chambersburg

What planting zone is Chambersburg, PA?

Chambersburg, PA is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Chambersburg, PA?

The median last spring frost is April 18 and the median first fall frost is October 25 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chambersburg 1 Ese station).

When can I plant a garden in Chambersburg, PA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 7 – Mar 28; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 25, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Chambersburg, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Chambersburg, PA get?

About 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 31 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).