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

Planting zone for 17568 — Refton, PA

ZIP code 17568 (Refton, Lancaster County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 17568 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 19
First frostOct 24
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 Refton, 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 Refton, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season186 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 5 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Lancaster 2ne Fltr Plt, PA — 7 miles away, elevation 269 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 17568

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 17568 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 Refton, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17568 is Letort — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Letort 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 17568; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Refton, PA

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights111nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,496base 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)
Precipitation44.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall21 inper year; 22 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 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.01 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 3.0❄6 JanFebruary: 2.52 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 2.5❄7 FebMarch: 3.50 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 3.5❄3 MarApril: 3.54 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.5 AprMay: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.82 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 4.18 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.2 OctNovember: 3.26 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.3❄1 NovDecember: 3.47 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 3.5❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lancaster 2ne Fltr Plt, PA (7 mi away); precipitation: Lancaster 2ne Fltr Plt, PA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

175847a
Willow Street, PA · 2 mi
175607a
New Providence, PA · 2 mi
175377a
Lampeter, PA · 3 mi
175797a
Strasburg, PA · 3 mi
176027a
Lancaster, PA · 5 mi
175727a
Ronks, PA · 6 mi
175037a
Bart, PA · 6 mi
175647a
Penryn, PA · 6 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17568

What planting zone is ZIP code 17568?

ZIP code 17568 (Refton, 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 Refton, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17568 is April 19; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lancaster 2ne Fltr Plt station.

When is the first frost in Refton, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17568 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 186 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17568?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside around Apr 26 – May 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 17568 get?

About 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 21 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lancaster 2ne Fltr Plt station).

How hot do summers get in Refton, PA?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17568 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Letort at the center of ZIP 17568: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Refton, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17568 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 Refton, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17568 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17568 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17568 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.