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

Planting zone for 15534 — Buffalo Mills, PA

ZIP code 15534 (Buffalo Mills, Bedford County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 15534 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 frostMay 4
First frostOct 10
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 Buffalo Mills, 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 Buffalo Mills, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Shawnee Sp, PA — 10 miles away, elevation 1,276 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 15534

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 15534 came on Mar 19 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 Buffalo Mills, PA.

Soil in Buffalo Mills, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15534 is Bedington — channery loam, well drained.

TextureChannery loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bedington-Berks complex, 25 to 35 percent slopes, very stony.

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 15534; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Buffalo Mills, PA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights149nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,743base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 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)
Precipitation39.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall40 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 59 °F 84°59° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.82 in precipitation, 12.1 in snowfall 2.8❄12 JanFebruary: 2.35 in precipitation, 9.7 in snowfall 2.4❄10 FebMarch: 3.35 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 3.4❄8 MarApril: 3.43 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.4❄1 AprMay: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 2.90 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.9 OctNovember: 3.09 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.1❄1 NovDecember: 3.05 in precipitation, 8.7 in snowfall 3.0❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Shawnee Sp, PA (10 mi away); precipitation: Buffalo Mills, PA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

155506b
Manns Choice, PA · 7 mi
155456b
Hyndman, PA · 7 mi
155386b
Fairhope, PA · 8 mi
155226b
Bedford, PA · 8 mi
159266a
Central City, PA · 11 mi
155596b
Schellsburg, PA · 11 mi
155306a
Berlin, PA · 13 mi
215297a
Ellerslie, MD · 14 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 15534

What planting zone is ZIP code 15534?

ZIP code 15534 (Buffalo Mills, 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 Buffalo Mills, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 15534 is May 4; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shawnee Sp station.

When is the first frost in Buffalo Mills, PA?

The median first fall frost near 15534 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 158 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 15534?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 15534 get?

About 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 40 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Buffalo Mills station).

How hot do summers get in Buffalo Mills, PA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 15534 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bedington at the center of ZIP 15534: channery loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Buffalo Mills, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 15534 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Buffalo Mills, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 15534 is 15 h 00 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).