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

Planting zone for 17254 — Scotland, PA

ZIP code 17254 (Scotland, Franklin 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 17254 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 Scotland, 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 Scotland, 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 — 4 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 17254

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 17254 came on Mar 18 — 10 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 Scotland, PA.

Soil in Scotland, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17254 is Jugtown — silt loam, moderately well drained.

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

Map unit: Jugtown silt loam.

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 17254; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Scotland, 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 20 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 (4 mi away); precipitation: Chambersburg 1 Ese, PA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

172017a
Chambersburg, PA · 4 mi
172027a
Chambersburg, PA · 6 mi
172227a
Fayetteville, PA · 7 mi
172577a
Shippensburg, PA · 8 mi
172467a
Pleasant Hall, PA · 8 mi
172617a
South Mountain, PA · 9 mi
172377a
Mont Alto, PA · 9 mi
172447a
Orrstown, PA · 9 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17254

What planting zone is ZIP code 17254?

ZIP code 17254 (Scotland, 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 Scotland, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17254 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 Scotland, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17254 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17254?

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 17254 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 Scotland, 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 17254 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jugtown at the center of ZIP 17254: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Scotland, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17254 came on Mar 18 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Scotland, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17254 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17254 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17254 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.