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

Planting zone for Holmes, PA

Holmes, PA is in USDA zone 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost November 10.

Holmes 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 2
First frostNov 10
Growing season224 days

7b 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 Holmes, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 30
Growing season224 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 22 and returns around November 23.

From the NOAA station Philadelphia Intl Airport, PA, elevation 10 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 Holmes

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 19043 came on Mar 19 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17).

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 7b in Pennsylvania

625 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 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 79

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 215

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 182

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 Holmes, PA.

Soil in Holmes, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 19043 is Talleyville — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Talleyville-Urban land-Anthropic Udorthents complex, 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 19043; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Holmes, PA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days30days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights77nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,047base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 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)
Precipitation44.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall23 inper year; 16 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 64 °F 83°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 70 °F 88°70° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 68 °F 86°68° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 61 °F 79°61° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 49 °F 67°49° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 39 °F 56°39° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 31 °F 46°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.13 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 3.1❄7 JanFebruary: 2.75 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 2.8❄8 FebMarch: 3.96 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 4.0❄4 MarApril: 3.47 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.5 AprMay: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 2.91 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.9 NovDecember: 3.97 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 4.0❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Philadelphia Intl Airport, PA (5 mi away); precipitation: Philadelphia Intl Airport, PA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Holmes

190437b
5 to 10 °F
190987b
5 to 10 °F

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about Holmes

What planting zone is Holmes, PA?

Holmes, PA is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Holmes, PA?

The median last spring frost is April 2 and the median first fall frost is November 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Philadelphia Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Holmes, PA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 19 – Mar 12; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 9, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Holmes, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 00 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Holmes, PA get?

About 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 23 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).