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

Planting zone for 16701 — Bradford, PA

ZIP code 16701 (Bradford, McKean County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 16701 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 18
First frostOct 4
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bradford, 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 Bradford, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season140 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Bradford 4sw Rsch 5, PA — 2 miles away, elevation 1,660 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 16701

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 16701 came on Apr 5 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 Bradford, PA.

Soil in Bradford, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16701 is Hazleton — channery loam, well drained.

TextureChannery loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hazleton channery loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes, very 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 16701; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bradford, PA

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights169nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,058base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 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
Snowfall75 inper year; 89 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 33 °F, low 13 °F 33°13° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.84 in precipitation, 20.5 in snowfall 3.8❄21 JanFebruary: 2.84 in precipitation, 15.6 in snowfall 2.8❄16 FebMarch: 3.33 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 3.3❄10 MarApril: 4.20 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 4.2❄3 AprMay: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.38 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.4❄1 OctNovember: 3.91 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 3.9❄7 NovDecember: 4.08 in precipitation, 18.4 in snowfall 4.1❄18 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bradford 4sw Rsch 5, PA (2 mi away); precipitation: Bradford 4sw Rsch 5, PA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

167255b
Custer City, PA · 5 mi
167385b
Lewis Run, PA · 8 mi
167325b
Gifford, PA · 8 mi
167445b
Rew, PA · 10 mi
147535b
Limestone, NY · 10 mi
167275b
Derrick City, PA · 12 mi
167265b
Cyclone, PA · 12 mi
147795b
Salamanca, NY · 13 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 16701

What planting zone is ZIP code 16701?

ZIP code 16701 (Bradford, 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 Bradford, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 16701 is May 18; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bradford 4sw Rsch 5 station.

When is the first frost in Bradford, PA?

The median first fall frost near 16701 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 140 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 16701?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 16701 get?

About 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 75 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bradford 4sw Rsch 5 station).

How hot do summers get in Bradford, PA?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 16701 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hazleton at the center of ZIP 16701: channery loam, well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bradford, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 16701 came on Apr 5 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bradford, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 16701 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 16701 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 16701 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.