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

Planting zone for 17534 — Intercourse, PA

ZIP code 17534 (Intercourse, Lancaster 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 November 1.

Where ZIP 17534 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 frostNov 1
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 Intercourse, 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 Intercourse, 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 frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station New Holland 2 Se, PA — 4 miles away, elevation 604 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 17534

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 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 17534 came on Mar 22 — 4 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).

Soil in Intercourse, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17534 is Duffield — silt loam, well drained.

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

Map unit: Duffield 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 17534; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Intercourse, PA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights97nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,607base 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)
Precipitation46.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall34 inper year; 29 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 24 °F 39°24° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 62 °F 81°62° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 47 °F 65°47° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 37 °F 54°37° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 29 °F 43°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.34 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 3.3❄10 JanFebruary: 2.78 in precipitation, 10.6 in snowfall 2.8❄11 FebMarch: 4.11 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 4.1❄6 MarApril: 3.56 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 3.6❄1 AprMay: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 4.56 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.6 OctNovember: 3.18 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.2❄1 NovDecember: 3.69 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 3.7❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: New Holland 2 Se, PA (4 mi away); precipitation: New Holland 2 Se, PA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

175297a
Gordonville, PA · <1 mi
175727a
Ronks, PA · 3 mi
175737a
Ronks, PA · 3 mi
175357a
Kinzers, PA · 4 mi
175767a
Smoketown, PA · 5 mi
175057a
Bird In Hand, PA · 5 mi
175627a
Paradise, PA · 5 mi
175577a
New Holland, PA · 5 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17534

What planting zone is ZIP code 17534?

ZIP code 17534 (Intercourse, 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 Intercourse, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17534 is April 14; after April 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, New Holland 2 Se station.

When is the first frost in Intercourse, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17534 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17534?

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 17534 get?

About 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 34 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, New Holland 2 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Intercourse, PA?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17534 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Duffield at the center of ZIP 17534: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Intercourse, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17534 came on Mar 22 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Intercourse, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17534 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17534 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17534 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.