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

Planting zone for 16436 — Spring Creek, PA

ZIP code 16436 (Spring Creek, Warren County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 22 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 16436 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 22
First frostSep 30
2012 zone5b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Spring Creek, 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 Creek, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season131 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 8 and returns around October 11.

From the NOAA station Chandlers Valley 1se, PA — 12 miles away, elevation 1,490 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 16436

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 10 – May 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 1 – May 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 5 – Jun 19
BeansSow outdoors · May 29 – Jun 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 29 – Jun 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 29 – Jun 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 22) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 16436 came on Apr 4 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 5b in Pennsylvania

572 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 75

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 113

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 198

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 166

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 8

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 honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Creek, PA.

Soil in Spring Creek, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16436 is Lordstown — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lordstown soils, 25 to 70 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 16436; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Spring Creek, PA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, February
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights173nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,004base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation48.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall116 inper year; 88 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 13 °F 31°13° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 12 °F 34°12° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 20 °F 43°20° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 30 °F 57°30° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 40 °F 68°40° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 52 °F 79°52° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.73 in precipitation, 31.4 in snowfall 3.7❄31 JanFebruary: 2.47 in precipitation, 26.5 in snowfall 2.5❄27 FebMarch: 3.36 in precipitation, 12.7 in snowfall 3.4❄13 MarApril: 4.17 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 4.2❄7 AprMay: 4.39 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.4 MayJune: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 5.52 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.33 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.3❄1 OctNovember: 3.97 in precipitation, 9.7 in snowfall 4.0❄10 NovDecember: 4.01 in precipitation, 28 in snowfall 4.0❄28 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chandlers Valley 1se, PA (12 mi away); precipitation: Chandlers Valley 1se, PA (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

5 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

164165b
Garland, PA · 3 mi
164056a
Columbus, PA · 5 mi
163406a
Pittsfield, PA · 6 mi
164025b
Bear Lake, PA · 7 mi
164346a
Spartansburg, PA · 10 mi
163715b
Youngsville, PA · 10 mi
164076a
Corry, PA · 10 mi
147586a
Niobe, NY · 11 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 16436

What planting zone is ZIP code 16436?

ZIP code 16436 (Spring Creek, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Spring Creek, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 16436 is May 22; after June 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chandlers Valley 1se station.

When is the first frost in Spring Creek, PA?

The median first fall frost near 16436 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 131 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 16436?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 27 – Apr 10 and set transplants outside around May 29 – Jun 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 16436 get?

About 48.9 inches of precipitation a year and 116 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chandlers Valley 1se station).

How hot do summers get in Spring Creek, PA?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 16436 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lordstown at the center of ZIP 16436: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 16436 came on Apr 4 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Spring Creek, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 16436 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).