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

Planting zone for 16941 — Genesee, PA

ZIP code 16941 (Genesee, Potter County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 16941 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 15
First frostOct 2
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 Genesee, 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 Genesee, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season140 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Wellsville, NY — 13 miles away, elevation 1,509 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 16941

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 16941 came on Apr 6 — 9 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 Genesee, PA.

Soil in Genesee, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16941 is Willdin — channery silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Willdin channery silt loam, 0 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 16941; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Genesee, PA

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights169nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,962base 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)
Precipitation38.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall61 inper year; 71 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 14 °F 33°14° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°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: 2.37 in precipitation, 14.9 in snowfall 2.4❄15 JanFebruary: 1.88 in precipitation, 13.4 in snowfall 1.9❄13 FebMarch: 2.76 in precipitation, 11.5 in snowfall 2.8❄12 MarApril: 3.22 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 3.2❄2 AprMay: 3.45 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.5 MayJune: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.65 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 2.86 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 2.9❄6 NovDecember: 2.56 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 2.6❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wellsville, NY (13 mi away); precipitation: Whitesville 1n, NY (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

169375b
Mills, PA · 3 mi
148975b
Whitesville, NY · 3 mi
169275b
Harrison Valley, PA · 5 mi
148775b
Rexville, NY · 6 mi
169235b
Genesee, PA · 6 mi
169485b
Ulysses, PA · 9 mi
148856a
Troupsburg, NY · 10 mi
148955b
Wellsville, NY · 11 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Genesee → · Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 16941

What planting zone is ZIP code 16941?

ZIP code 16941 (Genesee, 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 Genesee, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 16941 is May 15; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wellsville station.

When is the first frost in Genesee, PA?

The median first fall frost near 16941 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 140 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 16941?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 16941 get?

About 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 61 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Whitesville 1n station).

How hot do summers get in Genesee, PA?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 16941 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Willdin at the center of ZIP 16941: channery silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Genesee, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 16941 came on Apr 6 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Genesee, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 16941 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).