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

Planting zone for West Chester, PA

West Chester, PA is in USDA zone 7a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 18.

West Chester on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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 codes4
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 18
Growing season174 days

7a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for West Chester, 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 West Chester, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station W Chester 2 Nw, PA, elevation 374 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 West Chester

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 19381 came on Mar 24 — about the same time as 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 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 West Chester, PA.

Soil in West Chester, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 19381 is Udorthents — extremely channery silt loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureExtremely channery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land, 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 19381; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in West Chester, PA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days27days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights131nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,270base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 01 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)
Precipitation50.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall31 inper year; 34 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 21 °F 43°21° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.65 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 3.6❄8 JanFebruary: 3.12 in precipitation, 13.2 in snowfall 3.1❄13 FebMarch: 4.61 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 4.6❄4 MarApril: 3.78 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.8 AprMay: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 5.65 in precipitation 5.7 SepOctober: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 3.55 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.5❄1 NovDecember: 4.72 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 4.7❄4 Dec

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

ZIP codes in West Chester

193807a
0 to 5 °F
193817a
0 to 5 °F
193827a
0 to 5 °F
193837a
0 to 5 °F

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about West Chester

What planting zone is West Chester, PA?

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

When is the last frost in West Chester, PA?

The median last spring frost is April 26 and the median first fall frost is October 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, W Chester 2 Nw station).

When can I plant a garden in West Chester, PA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 15 – Apr 5; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 3, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in West Chester, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does West Chester, PA get?

About 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 31 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).