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

Planting zone for 15779 — Torrance, PA

ZIP code 15779 (Torrance, Westmoreland County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 15779 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 2
First frostOct 14
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 Torrance, 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 Torrance, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season163 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Loyalhanna Lake, PA — 13 miles away, elevation 991 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 15779

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 15779 came on Mar 10 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Torrance, PA.

Soil in Torrance, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15779 is Laidig — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter60%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Laidig gravelly loam, 25 to 35 percent slopes, extremely 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 15779; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Torrance, PA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights130nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,771base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 17 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall48 inper year; 44 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 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.77 in precipitation, 14.6 in snowfall 3.8❄15 JanFebruary: 3.23 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 3.2❄11 FebMarch: 4.16 in precipitation, 9.6 in snowfall 4.2❄10 MarApril: 4.26 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.3❄1 AprMay: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.20 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.2 OctNovember: 4.11 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 4.1❄2 NovDecember: 3.68 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 3.7❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Loyalhanna Lake, PA (13 mi away); precipitation: Derry 4 Sw, PA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

157176b
Blairsville, PA · 4 mi
159496b
Robinson, PA · 4 mi
159236b
Bolivar, PA · 4 mi
157166b
Black Lick, PA · 5 mi
156276b
Derry, PA · 6 mi
156716b
New Derry, PA · 6 mi
157506b
Josephine, PA · 6 mi
157316b
Coral, PA · 7 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 15779

What planting zone is ZIP code 15779?

ZIP code 15779 (Torrance, 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 Torrance, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 15779 is May 2; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Loyalhanna Lake station.

When is the first frost in Torrance, PA?

The median first fall frost near 15779 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 163 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 15779?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 15779 get?

About 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 48 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Derry 4 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Torrance, PA?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 15779 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Laidig at the center of ZIP 15779: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Torrance, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 15779 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Torrance, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 15779 is 15 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 15779 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 15779 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.