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

Planting zone for Danville, PA

Danville, PA is in USDA zone 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 13.

Danville 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 13
Growing season166 days

6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Danville, PA…

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 Danville, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season166 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Sunbury, PA, elevation 574 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 Danville

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 17821 came on Mar 31 — 6 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 Pennsylvania

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

Trees 76

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 122

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 209

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 173

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 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Danville, PA.

Soil in Danville, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17821 is Hagerstown — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Hagerstown silt loam, 8 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 17821; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Danville, PA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights134nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,859base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall29 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 19 °F 35°19° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 60 °F 84°60° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.60 in precipitation, 10.1 in snowfall 3.6❄10 JanFebruary: 2.07 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 2.1❄7 FebMarch: 3.27 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 3.3❄6 MarApril: 3.80 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.8❄1 AprMay: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 SepOctober: 3.93 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.9 OctNovember: 2.91 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.9 NovDecember: 3.21 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 3.2❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sunbury, PA (12 mi away); precipitation: Danville, PA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Danville

178216b
−5 to 0 °F
178226b
−5 to 0 °F

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about Danville

What planting zone is Danville, PA?

Danville, PA is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Danville, PA?

The median last spring frost is April 30 and the median first fall frost is October 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sunbury station).

When can I plant a garden in Danville, PA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 19 – Apr 9; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Danville, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Danville, PA get?

About 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 29 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).