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

Planting zone for Reading, PA

Reading, PA is in USDA zone 7a across its 12 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 29.

Reading on the zone map

Outlined: its 10 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes12
Last frostApr 14
First frostOct 29
Growing season197 days

7a 12 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Reading, 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 Reading, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season197 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Reading Spaatz Field, PA, elevation 341 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 Reading

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 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 19601 came on Mar 22 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 7a in Pennsylvania

620 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

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 212

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 181

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 Reading, PA.

Soil in Reading, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 19601 is Duffield — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Duffield silt 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 19601; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Reading, PA

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights107nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,538base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 03 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 17 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation45.2 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 23 °F 39°23° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.61 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Reading

196017a
0 to 5 °F
196027a
0 to 5 °F
196037a
0 to 5 °F
196047a
0 to 5 °F
196057a
0 to 5 °F
196067a
0 to 5 °F
196077a
0 to 5 °F
196087a
0 to 5 °F
196097a
0 to 5 °F
196107a
0 to 5 °F
196117a
0 to 5 °F
196127a
0 to 5 °F

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about Reading

What planting zone is Reading, PA?

Reading, PA is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Reading, PA?

The median last spring frost is April 14 and the median first fall frost is October 29 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Reading Spaatz Field station).

When can I plant a garden in Reading, PA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 3 – Mar 24; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 21, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Reading, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Reading, PA get?

About 45.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).