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

Planting zone for 17033 — Hershey, PA

ZIP code 17033 (Hershey, Dauphin County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost November 2.

Where ZIP 17033 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 9
First frostNov 2
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Hershey, 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 Hershey, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 18
Growing season206 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Middletown Harrisburg Intl Airport, PA — 9 miles away, elevation 312 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 17033

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 7 – Sep 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 19 – Nov 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Nov 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 17033 came on Mar 22 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29).

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 Hershey, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17033 is Duffield — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Duffield silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 17033; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hershey, PA

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights101nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,702base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 03 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 18 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall30 inper year; 26 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 23 °F 39°23° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 46 °F 66°46° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 36 °F 54°36° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.03 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 3.0❄9 JanFebruary: 2.59 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 2.6❄9 FebMarch: 3.70 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 3.7❄6 MarApril: 3.55 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.5 AprMay: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 3.81 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.8 OctNovember: 2.97 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.0❄1 NovDecember: 3.43 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 3.4❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Middletown Harrisburg Intl Airport, PA (9 mi away); precipitation: Middletown Harrisburg Intl Airport, PA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

170107a
Campbelltown, PA · 2 mi
170787a
Palmyra, PA · 3 mi
170367a
Hummelstown, PA · 5 mi
170417a
Lawn, PA · 6 mi
170227a
Elizabethtown, PA · 7 mi
170037a
Annville, PA · 7 mi
170577a
Middletown, PA · 7 mi
171117a
Harrisburg, PA · 8 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17033

What planting zone is ZIP code 17033?

ZIP code 17033 (Hershey, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Hershey, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17033 is April 9; after April 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Middletown Harrisburg Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Hershey, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17033 is November 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 206 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17033?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 17033 get?

About 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 30 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Middletown Harrisburg Intl Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Hershey, PA?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17033 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Duffield at the center of ZIP 17033: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Hershey, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17033 came on Mar 22 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hershey, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17033 is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17033 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17033 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.