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

Planting zone for Indiana, PA

Indiana, PA is in USDA zone 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 13.

Indiana 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 frostMay 8
First frostOct 13
Growing season157 days

6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Indiana, 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 Indiana, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Indiana 3 Se, PA, elevation 1,102 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 Indiana

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
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 (May 8) 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 15701 came on Mar 12 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Indiana, PA.

Soil in Indiana, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15701 is Gilpin — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.9%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Gilpin-Upshur complex, 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 15701; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Indiana, PA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights131nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,703base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 05 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation47.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall46 inper year; 49 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 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 18 °F 39°18° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 25 °F 49°25° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.64 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 3.6❄13 JanFebruary: 2.95 in precipitation, 11.8 in snowfall 3.0❄12 FebMarch: 3.88 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 3.9❄6 MarApril: 4.03 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 4.0❄1 AprMay: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 5.13 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.50 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 3.5❄3 NovDecember: 3.64 in precipitation, 10.8 in snowfall 3.6❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Indiana 3 Se, PA (2 mi away); precipitation: Indiana 3 Se, PA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Indiana

157016b
−5 to 0 °F
157056b
−5 to 0 °F

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about Indiana

What planting zone is Indiana, PA?

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

When is the last frost in Indiana, PA?

The median last spring frost is May 8 and the median first fall frost is October 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Indiana 3 Se station).

When can I plant a garden in Indiana, PA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 27 – Apr 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Indiana, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Indiana, PA get?

About 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 46 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).