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

Planting zone for Hanover, PA

Hanover, PA is in USDA zones 6b to 7a across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 20.

Hanover on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zones6b–7a−5 to 5 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostApr 24
First frostOct 20
Growing season177 days

6b 1 ZIP   7a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

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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 Hanover, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 9 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Hanover 4 Sw, PA, elevation 558 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 Hanover

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 17332 came on Mar 21 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26).

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 Hanover, PA.

Soil in Hanover, PA

The center of ZIP 17332 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 17332; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hanover, PA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights122nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,289base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47 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 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 MarApril: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 SepOctober: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hanover 4 Sw, PA (3 mi away); precipitation: Hanover 1.2 Sw, PA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Hanover

173317a
0 to 5 °F
173327a
0 to 5 °F
173336b
−5 to 0 °F
173347a
0 to 5 °F
173357a
0 to 5 °F

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about Hanover

What planting zone is Hanover, PA?

Hanover, PA is in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F; 7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Hanover, PA?

The median last spring frost is April 24 and the median first fall frost is October 20 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hanover 4 Sw station).

When can I plant a garden in Hanover, PA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 13 – Apr 3; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 1, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Hanover, PA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 15 h 00 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Hanover, PA get?

About 47 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).