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

Planting zone for 17223 — Fort Littleton, PA

ZIP code 17223 (Fort Littleton, Fulton County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 17223 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 18
First frostOct 25
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 Fort Littleton, 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 Fort Littleton, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season188 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Chambersburg 1 Ese, PA — 19 miles away, elevation 640 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 17223

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 17223 came on Mar 20 — 11 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 Fort Littleton, PA.

Soil in Fort Littleton, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17223 is Frankstown — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Frankstown 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 17223; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Littleton, PA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,351base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall31 inper year; 31 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 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 32 °F 50°32° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 27 °F 41°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.21 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 3.2❄10 JanFebruary: 2.61 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 2.6❄8 FebMarch: 3.61 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 3.6❄6 MarApril: 3.98 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.0 AprMay: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.12 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.1❄1 NovDecember: 3.45 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 3.5❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chambersburg 1 Ese, PA (19 mi away); precipitation: Chambersburg 1 Ese, PA (19 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

172157a
Burnt Cabins, PA · 4 mi
172296b
Hustontown, PA · 4 mi
172217a
Fannettsburg, PA · 6 mi
172337a
Mc Connellsburg, PA · 7 mi
172247a
Fort Loudon, PA · 7 mi
172557a
Shade Gap, PA · 7 mi
166896b
Waterfall, PA · 8 mi
172717a
Willow Hill, PA · 8 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17223

What planting zone is ZIP code 17223?

ZIP code 17223 (Fort Littleton, 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 Fort Littleton, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17223 is April 18; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chambersburg 1 Ese station.

When is the first frost in Fort Littleton, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17223 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17223?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 21 – Mar 7 and set transplants outside around Apr 25 – May 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 17223 get?

About 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 31 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chambersburg 1 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Littleton, PA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 19 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17223 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Frankstown at the center of ZIP 17223: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Fort Littleton, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17223 came on Mar 20 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Littleton, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17223 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17223 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17223 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.