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

Planting zone for 16321 — East Hickory, PA

ZIP code 16321 (East Hickory, Forest County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 16321 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 1
First frostOct 25
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 East Hickory, 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 East Hickory, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season176 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Tionesta 2 Se Lake, PA — 7 miles away, elevation 1,201 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 16321

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 16321 came on Mar 27 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 East Hickory, PA.

Soil in East Hickory, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16321 is Gilpin — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter72%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gilpin channery silt loam, 35 to 65 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 16321; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Hickory, PA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights145nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,858base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall74 inper year; 75 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 19 °F 35°19° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 36 °F 61°36° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 32 °F 50°32° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 25 °F 39°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.71 in precipitation, 23 in snowfall 3.7❄23 JanFebruary: 2.58 in precipitation, 15.2 in snowfall 2.6❄15 FebMarch: 3.40 in precipitation, 10.5 in snowfall 3.4❄11 MarApril: 4.40 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 4.4❄2 AprMay: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.83 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.8 OctNovember: 3.60 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 3.6❄7 NovDecember: 3.66 in precipitation, 16.8 in snowfall 3.7❄17 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tionesta 2 Se Lake, PA (7 mi away); precipitation: West Hickory 2, PA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

163706a
West Hickory, PA · 3 mi
163226a
Endeavor, PA · 3 mi
163536a
Tionesta, PA · 5 mi
163416a
Pleasantville, PA · 8 mi
163516a
Tidioute, PA · 8 mi
164206a
Grand Valley, PA · 11 mi
162206a
Crown, PA · 12 mi
163616a
Tylersburg, PA · 13 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 16321

What planting zone is ZIP code 16321?

ZIP code 16321 (East Hickory, 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 East Hickory, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 16321 is May 1; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tionesta 2 Se Lake station.

When is the first frost in East Hickory, PA?

The median first fall frost near 16321 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 176 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 16321?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 16321 get?

About 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 74 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, West Hickory 2 station).

How hot do summers get in East Hickory, PA?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 16321 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gilpin at the center of ZIP 16321: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in East Hickory, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 16321 came on Mar 27 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Hickory, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 16321 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 16321 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 16321 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.