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

Planting zone for 16732 — Gifford, PA

ZIP code 16732 (Gifford, 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 1.

Where ZIP 16732 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 1
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 Gifford, 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 Gifford, 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 1median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Bradford Regional Airport, PA — 4 miles away, elevation 2,116 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 16732

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 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 16732 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).

Soil in Gifford, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16732 is Cookport — moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter60%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cookport loam, 3 to 8 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 16732; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gifford, PA

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,065base 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)
Precipitation41.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 16 °F 31°16° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 16 °F 33°16° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 30 °F 46°30° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 22 °F 35°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 JanFebruary: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 MarApril: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

167445b
Rew, PA · 2 mi
167255b
Custer City, PA · 4 mi
167265b
Cyclone, PA · 4 mi
167385b
Lewis Run, PA · 7 mi
167455b
Rixford, PA · 8 mi
167015b
Bradford, PA · 8 mi
167275b
Derrick City, PA · 10 mi
167305b
East Smethport, PA · 10 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 16732

What planting zone is ZIP code 16732?

ZIP code 16732 (Gifford, 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 Gifford, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 16732 is May 18; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bradford Regional Airport station.

When is the first frost in Gifford, PA?

The median first fall frost near 16732 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 16732?

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 16732 get?

About 41.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bradford Regional Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Gifford, 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 16732 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cookport at the center of ZIP 16732: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Gifford, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 16732 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 Gifford, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 16732 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 16732 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 16732 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.