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

Planting zone for Genesee, PA

Genesee, PA is in USDA zone 5b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost September 29.

Genesee 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 20
First frostSep 29
Growing season130 days

5b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Genesee, 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 Genesee, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season130 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Oswayo 1 Ene, PA, elevation 1,709 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 Genesee

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 3 – Jun 17
BeansSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 20) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 16941 came on Apr 6 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 5b in Pennsylvania

572 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 75

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 113

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 198

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 166

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 8

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low 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 Genesee, PA.

Soil in Genesee, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16941 is Willdin — channery silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Willdin channery silt loam, 0 to 8 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 16941; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Genesee, PA

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights169nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,962base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall61 inper year; 71 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 13 °F 31°13° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 14 °F 33°14° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.37 in precipitation, 14.9 in snowfall 2.4❄15 JanFebruary: 1.88 in precipitation, 13.4 in snowfall 1.9❄13 FebMarch: 2.76 in precipitation, 11.5 in snowfall 2.8❄12 MarApril: 3.22 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 3.2❄2 AprMay: 3.45 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.5 MayJune: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.65 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 2.86 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 2.9❄6 NovDecember: 2.56 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 2.6❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wellsville, NY (13 mi away); precipitation: Whitesville 1n, NY (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Genesee

169235b
−15 to −10 °F
169415b
−15 to −10 °F

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about Genesee

What planting zone is Genesee, PA?

Genesee, PA is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Genesee, PA?

The median last spring frost is May 20 and the median first fall frost is September 29 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oswayo 1 Ene station).

When can I plant a garden in Genesee, PA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 8 – Apr 29; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Genesee, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Genesee, PA get?

About 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 61 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).