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

Planting zone for 17210 — Amberson, PA

ZIP code 17210 (Amberson, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 17210 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 19
First frostOct 24
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Amberson, 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 Amberson, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season188 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 5 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Shippensburg, PA — 12 miles away, elevation 679 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 17210

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 17210 came on Mar 29 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 6b in Pennsylvania

605 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 122

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 209

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 173

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 10

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 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Amberson, PA.

Soil in Amberson, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17210 is Weikert — channery silt loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Weikert channery silt loam, 8 to 15 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 17210; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Amberson, PA

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days30days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights111nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,462base 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)
Precipitation42.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall34 inper year; 35 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 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 64 °F 87°64° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.17 in precipitation, 9.8 in snowfall 3.2❄10 JanFebruary: 2.66 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 2.7❄10 FebMarch: 3.70 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 3.7❄7 MarApril: 3.64 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.6 AprMay: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.33 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.3 OctNovember: 2.98 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.0❄1 NovDecember: 3.36 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 3.4❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Shippensburg, PA (12 mi away); precipitation: Shippensburg, PA (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

172197a
Doylesburg, PA · 3 mi
172207a
Dry Run, PA · 4 mi
172177a
Concord, PA · 5 mi
172517a
Roxbury, PA · 5 mi
172407a
Newburg, PA · 5 mi
172447a
Orrstown, PA · 7 mi
172627a
Spring Run, PA · 7 mi
172137a
Blairs Mills, PA · 7 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17210

What planting zone is ZIP code 17210?

ZIP code 17210 (Amberson, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Amberson, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17210 is April 19; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shippensburg station.

When is the first frost in Amberson, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17210 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17210?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside around Apr 26 – May 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 17210 get?

About 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 34 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shippensburg station).

How hot do summers get in Amberson, PA?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 30 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17210 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Weikert at the center of ZIP 17210: channery silt loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Amberson, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17210 came on Mar 29 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Amberson, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17210 is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).