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

Planting zone for Houtzdale, PA

Houtzdale, PA is in USDA zone 6a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost October 1.

Houtzdale 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 13
First frostOct 1
Growing season142 days

6a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Houtzdale, 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 Houtzdale, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Philipsburg 2 S, PA, elevation 1,719 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 Houtzdale

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 16651 came on Mar 31 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9).

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 6a in Pennsylvania

598 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 121

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 207

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 170

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 9

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 creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Houtzdale, PA.

Soil in Houtzdale, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16651 is Cookport — slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cookport channery loam, 3 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 16651; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Houtzdale, PA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights145nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,232base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation42 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall50 inper year; 68 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 16 °F 32°16° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 17 °F 35°17° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.02 in precipitation, 13.1 in snowfall 3.0❄13 JanFebruary: 2.49 in precipitation, 12.7 in snowfall 2.5❄13 FebMarch: 3.64 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 3.6❄9 MarApril: 3.73 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 3.7❄2 AprMay: 3.78 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.8 MayJune: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.47 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.5❄1 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 3.2❄3 NovDecember: 3.14 in precipitation, 9.6 in snowfall 3.1❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Philipsburg 2 S, PA (9 mi away); precipitation: Philipsburg 2 S, PA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Houtzdale

166516a
−10 to −5 °F
166986a
−10 to −5 °F

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about Houtzdale

What planting zone is Houtzdale, PA?

Houtzdale, PA is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Houtzdale, PA?

The median last spring frost is May 13 and the median first fall frost is October 1 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Philipsburg 2 S station).

When can I plant a garden in Houtzdale, PA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 1 – Apr 22; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 20, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Houtzdale, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Houtzdale, PA get?

About 42 inches of precipitation a year and 50 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).