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

Planting zone for 15686 — Spring Church, PA

ZIP code 15686 (Spring Church, Armstrong 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 16.

Where ZIP 15686 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 16
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 Spring Church, 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 Spring Church, 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 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season164 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Ford City 4 S Dam, PA — 8 miles away, elevation 932 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 15686

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 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 15686 came on Mar 15 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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 Spring Church, PA.

Soil in Spring Church, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15686 is Wharton — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Wharton-Gilpin silt loams, 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 15686; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Spring Church, PA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights142nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,793base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 05 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.3 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 36 °F, low 17 °F 36°17° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 18 °F 39°18° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 59 °F 84°59° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° 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

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 JanFebruary: 2.61 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 MarApril: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ford City 4 S Dam, PA (8 mi away); precipitation: Ford City 4 S Dam, PA (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

156186b
Avonmore, PA · 3 mi
157836b
West Lebanon, PA · 5 mi
156906b
Vandergrift, PA · 6 mi
156736b
North Apollo, PA · 6 mi
157746b
Shelocta, PA · 7 mi
157366b
Elderton, PA · 7 mi
156806b
Salina, PA · 7 mi
157276b
Clune, PA · 7 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 15686

What planting zone is ZIP code 15686?

ZIP code 15686 (Spring Church, 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 Spring Church, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 15686 is May 4; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ford City 4 S Dam station.

When is the first frost in Spring Church, PA?

The median first fall frost near 15686 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 164 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 15686?

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 15686 get?

About 44.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ford City 4 S Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Spring Church, PA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 15686 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wharton at the center of ZIP 15686: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Spring Church, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 15686 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Spring Church, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 15686 is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 15686 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 15686 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.