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

Planting zone for 15438 — Fayette City, PA

ZIP code 15438 (Fayette City, Fayette County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost November 5.

Where ZIP 15438 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 13
First frostNov 5
2012 zone6b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fayette City, 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 Fayette City, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season205 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 16.

From the NOAA station Charleroi Lock 4, PA — 6 miles away, elevation 748 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 15438

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 13) and first fall frost (Nov 5) 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 15438 came on Mar 10 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 25).

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 Fayette City, PA.

Soil in Fayette City, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15438 is Dormont — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.6%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Dormont silt loam, 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 15438; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fayette City, PA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights108nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,400base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall10 inper year; 11 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 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 27 °F 43°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.24 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 3.2❄4 JanFebruary: 2.75 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 2.8❄3 FebMarch: 3.42 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 3.4❄2 MarApril: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.85 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.9 NovDecember: 3.27 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 3.3❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Charleroi Lock 4, PA (6 mi away); precipitation: Charleroi Lock 4, PA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

154836b
Stockdale, PA · <1 mi
154666b
Newell, PA · 2 mi
154346b
Elco, PA · 2 mi
154126b
Allenport, PA · 2 mi
154196b
California, PA · 2 mi
154326b
Dunlevy, PA · 3 mi
154426b
Grindstone, PA · 4 mi
154236b
Coal Center, PA · 4 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 15438

What planting zone is ZIP code 15438?

ZIP code 15438 (Fayette City, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Fayette City, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 15438 is April 13; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Charleroi Lock 4 station.

When is the first frost in Fayette City, PA?

The median first fall frost near 15438 is November 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 205 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 15438?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 16 – Mar 2 and set transplants outside around Apr 20 – May 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 15438 get?

About 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Charleroi Lock 4 station).

How hot do summers get in Fayette City, PA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 15438 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dormont at the center of ZIP 15438: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Fayette City, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 15438 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fayette City, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 15438 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).