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

Planting zone for 16154 — Transfer, PA

ZIP code 16154 (Transfer, Mercer County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 16154 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 15
First frostOct 3
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 Transfer, 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 Transfer, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season140 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Mercer, PA — 12 miles away, elevation 1,221 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 16154

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 16154 came on Mar 12 — 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 Transfer, PA.

Soil in Transfer, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16154 is Frenchtown — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4.7%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Frenchtown silt loam, 0 to 3 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 16154; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Transfer, PA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights159nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,525base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall62 inper year; 63 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 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 17 °F 39°17° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 34 °F 62°34° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 56 °F 82°56° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 56 °F 82°56° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 49 °F 75°49° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.16 in precipitation, 18.6 in snowfall 3.2❄19 JanFebruary: 2.26 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 2.3❄13 FebMarch: 3.00 in precipitation, 9.5 in snowfall 3.0❄10 MarApril: 3.93 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.9❄2 AprMay: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.55 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.5 OctNovember: 3.22 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 3.2❄5 NovDecember: 3.22 in precipitation, 13.4 in snowfall 3.2❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mercer, PA (12 mi away); precipitation: Jamestown 2 Nw, PA (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

161136a
Clark, PA · 3 mi
161506a
Sharpsville, PA · 3 mi
444536a
Orangeville, OH · 6 mi
161256a
Greenville, PA · 6 mi
161486a
Hermitage, PA · 7 mi
444046a
Burghill, OH · 7 mi
161466a
Sharon, PA · 8 mi
161246a
Fredonia, PA · 8 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 16154

What planting zone is ZIP code 16154?

ZIP code 16154 (Transfer, 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 Transfer, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 16154 is May 15; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mercer station.

When is the first frost in Transfer, PA?

The median first fall frost near 16154 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 140 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 16154?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 16154 get?

About 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 62 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jamestown 2 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Transfer, PA?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 16154 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Frenchtown at the center of ZIP 16154: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Transfer, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 16154 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Transfer, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 16154 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 16154 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 16154 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.