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

Planting zone for 17362 — Spring Grove, PA

ZIP code 17362 (Spring Grove, York County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 17362 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 27
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 Spring Grove, 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 Spring Grove, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station York Airport, PA — 5 miles away, elevation 486 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 17362

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
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 27) 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 17362 came on Mar 19 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26).

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 Spring Grove, PA.

Soil in Spring Grove, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17362 is Chester — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Chester silt loam, 3 to 8 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 17362; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Spring Grove, PA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights125nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,226base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 20 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation44.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall29 inper year; 27 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 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.08 in precipitation, 9.8 in snowfall 3.1❄10 JanFebruary: 2.60 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 2.6❄9 FebMarch: 3.86 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 3.9❄5 MarApril: 3.43 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.4 AprMay: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 3.07 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.1❄1 NovDecember: 3.50 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 3.5❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: York Airport, PA (5 mi away); precipitation: Spring Grove, PA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

173117a
Codorus, PA · 3 mi
173646b
Thomasville, PA · 6 mi
173607a
Seven Valleys, PA · 6 mi
173297a
Glenville, PA · 6 mi
173347a
Hanover, PA · 6 mi
173357a
Hanover, PA · 7 mi
173017a
Abbottstown, PA · 7 mi
173327a
Hanover, PA · 7 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17362

What planting zone is ZIP code 17362?

ZIP code 17362 (Spring Grove, 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 Spring Grove, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17362 is April 27; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, York Airport station.

When is the first frost in Spring Grove, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17362 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 174 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17362?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 17362 get?

About 44.6 inches of precipitation a year and 29 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Spring Grove station).

How hot do summers get in Spring Grove, PA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17362 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Chester at the center of ZIP 17362: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Spring Grove, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17362 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Spring Grove, PA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 17362 is 15 h 00 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 17362 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17362 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.