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

Planting zone for 17072 — New Kingstown, PA

ZIP code 17072 (New Kingstown, Cumberland County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 17072 is

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 23
First frostOct 18
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 New Kingstown, 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 New Kingstown, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Carlisle Wtp, PA — 6 miles away, elevation 430 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 17072

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 17072 came on Mar 21 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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 7a in Pennsylvania

620 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

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 123

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 212

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 181

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium 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 New Kingstown, PA.

Soil in New Kingstown, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17072 is Huntington — 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 matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Huntington silt loam, 0 to 5 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 17072; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in New Kingstown, PA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights127nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,156base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 02 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)
Precipitation45.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 FebMarch: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Carlisle Wtp, PA (6 mi away); precipitation: Mechanicsburg 1.0 Nnw, PA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

170507a
Mechanicsburg, PA · 3 mi
170137a
Carlisle, PA · 6 mi
170557a
Mechanicsburg, PA · 6 mi
170077a
Boiling Springs, PA · 7 mi
170257a
Enola, PA · 7 mi
170537a
Marysville, PA · 7 mi
170277a
Grantham, PA · 7 mi
170117a
Camp Hill, PA · 8 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17072

What planting zone is ZIP code 17072?

ZIP code 17072 (New Kingstown, 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 New Kingstown, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17072 is April 23; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carlisle Wtp station.

When is the first frost in New Kingstown, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17072 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 177 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17072?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 26 – Mar 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 30 – May 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 17072 get?

About 45.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mechanicsburg 1.0 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in New Kingstown, PA?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17072 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Huntington at the center of ZIP 17072: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in New Kingstown, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17072 came on Mar 21 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in New Kingstown, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17072 is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17072 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17072 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.