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

Planting zone for 15488 — Waltersburg, PA

ZIP code 15488 (Waltersburg, Fayette County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 15488 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 30
First frostOct 18
2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Waltersburg, 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 Waltersburg, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Uniontown 1 Ne, PA — 5 miles away, elevation 955 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 15488

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
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 30) 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 15488 came on Mar 10 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 Waltersburg, PA.

Soil in Waltersburg, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15488 is Wharton — slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Wharton silt loam, 15 to 25 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 15488; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waltersburg, PA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights129nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,185base 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)
Precipitation46.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JanFebruary: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 MarApril: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Uniontown 1 Ne, PA (5 mi away); precipitation: Uniontown 1.7 Nne, PA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

154806b
Smock, PA · <1 mi
154496b
Keisterville, PA · 1 mi
154226b
Chestnut Ridge, PA · 3 mi
154896b
West Leisenring, PA · 4 mi
154866b
Vanderbilt, PA · 4 mi
154686b
New Salem, PA · 4 mi
154726b
Oliver, PA · 5 mi
154156b
Brier Hill, PA · 5 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 15488

What planting zone is ZIP code 15488?

ZIP code 15488 (Waltersburg, 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 Waltersburg, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 15488 is April 30; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Uniontown 1 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Waltersburg, PA?

The median first fall frost near 15488 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 171 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 15488?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 15488 get?

About 46.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Uniontown 1.7 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Waltersburg, PA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 15488 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wharton at the center of ZIP 15488: slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Waltersburg, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 15488 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Waltersburg, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 15488 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 15488 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 15488 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.