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

Planting zone for 17214 — Blue Ridge Summit, PA

ZIP code 17214 (Blue Ridge Summit, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 17214 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 14
First frostOct 30
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 Blue Ridge Summit, 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 Blue Ridge Summit, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season197 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Catoctin Mtn Park, MD — 7 miles away, elevation 1,611 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 17214

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 17214 came on Mar 22 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Blue Ridge Summit, PA.

Soil in Blue Ridge Summit, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17214 is Bagtown — cobbly loam, well drained.

TextureCobbly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bagtown cobbly loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes, extremely stony.

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 17214; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Blue Ridge Summit, PA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights106nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,429base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48.9 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 39 °F, low 23 °F 39°23° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 63 °F 81°63° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 58 °F 75°58° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°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

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 5.40 in precipitation 5.4 JulAugust: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Catoctin Mtn Park, MD (7 mi away); precipitation: Thurmont 3.0 N, MD (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

217197a
Cascade, MD · 3 mi
173207a
Fairfield, PA · 5 mi
217807a
Sabillasville, MD · 5 mi
172687a
Waynesboro, PA · 6 mi
172477a
Quincy, PA · 7 mi
172377a
Mont Alto, PA · 7 mi
217837a
Smithsburg, MD · 8 mi
172617a
South Mountain, PA · 8 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17214

What planting zone is ZIP code 17214?

ZIP code 17214 (Blue Ridge Summit, 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 Blue Ridge Summit, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17214 is April 14; after April 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Catoctin Mtn Park station.

When is the first frost in Blue Ridge Summit, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17214 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 197 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17214?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 17 – Mar 3 and set transplants outside around Apr 21 – May 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 17214 get?

About 48.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Thurmont 3.0 N station).

How hot do summers get in Blue Ridge Summit, PA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17214 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bagtown at the center of ZIP 17214: cobbly loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Blue Ridge Summit, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17214 came on Mar 22 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Blue Ridge Summit, PA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 17214 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 17214 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17214 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.