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

Planting zone for 15562 — Springs, PA

ZIP code 15562 (Springs, Somerset County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 15562 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 12
First frostOct 5
2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Springs, 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 Springs, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season146 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Meyersdale 2 Ssw, PA — 4 miles away, elevation 2,001 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 15562

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 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 15562 came on Mar 15 — 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 6a in Pennsylvania

598 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 121

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 207

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 170

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 9

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Springs, PA.

Soil in Springs, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15562 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 classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Wharton 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 15562; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Springs, PA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,195base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation41.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall46 inper year; 58 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 17 °F 34°17° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 17 °F 38°17° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.01 in precipitation, 12.9 in snowfall 3.0❄13 JanFebruary: 2.70 in precipitation, 11.4 in snowfall 2.7❄11 FebMarch: 3.65 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 3.6❄10 MarApril: 3.53 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.5❄1 AprMay: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.98 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.0❄1 OctNovember: 2.66 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 2.7❄3 NovDecember: 3.06 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 3.1❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Meyersdale 2 Ssw, PA (4 mi away); precipitation: Meyersdale 2 Ssw, PA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

155656a
West Salisbury, PA · 1 mi
155586a
Salisbury, PA · 2 mi
155326a
Boynton, PA · 3 mi
215366a
Grantsville, MD · 7 mi
155526a
Meyersdale, PA · 7 mi
155406a
Fort Hill, PA · 8 mi
155426a
Garrett, PA · 9 mi
215326a
Frostburg, MD · 9 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 15562

What planting zone is ZIP code 15562?

ZIP code 15562 (Springs, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Springs, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 15562 is May 12; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Meyersdale 2 Ssw station.

When is the first frost in Springs, PA?

The median first fall frost near 15562 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 146 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 15562?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 15562 get?

About 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 46 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Meyersdale 2 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Springs, PA?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 15562 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wharton at the center of ZIP 15562: slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Springs, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 15562 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Springs, PA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 15562 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 15562 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 15562 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.