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

Planting zone for 16855 — Mineral Springs, PA

ZIP code 16855 (Mineral Springs, Clearfield County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 16855 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 4
First frostOct 11
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 Mineral Springs, 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 Mineral Springs, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season161 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Clearfield Lawrence Airport, PA — 4 miles away, elevation 1,516 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 16855

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 16855 came on Mar 31 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 Mineral Springs, PA.

Soil in Mineral Springs, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16855 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 classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gilpin channery silt 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 16855; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mineral Springs, PA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights140nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,568base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.3 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 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 31 °F 49°31° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 23 °F 38°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 JanFebruary: 2.33 in precipitation 2.3 FebMarch: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 MarApril: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

168816a
Woodland, PA · 2 mi
168256a
Bigler, PA · 3 mi
166816a
Smokerun, PA · 4 mi
168766a
Wallaceton, PA · 4 mi
168736a
Shawville, PA · 4 mi
168786a
West Decatur, PA · 4 mi
168436a
Hyde, PA · 6 mi
168306a
Clearfield, PA · 7 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 16855

What planting zone is ZIP code 16855?

ZIP code 16855 (Mineral Springs, 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 Mineral Springs, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 16855 is May 4; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clearfield Lawrence Airport station.

When is the first frost in Mineral Springs, PA?

The median first fall frost near 16855 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 161 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 16855?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 16855 get?

About 40.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clearfield Lawrence Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Mineral Springs, 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 16855 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gilpin at the center of ZIP 16855: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mineral Springs, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 16855 came on Mar 31 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mineral Springs, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 16855 is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 16855 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 16855 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.