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

Planting zone for 17575 — Silver Spring, PA

ZIP code 17575 (Silver Spring, Lancaster County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 17575 is

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 30
First frostOct 10
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 Silver Spring, 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 Silver Spring, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Landisville 2 Nw, PA — 4 miles away, elevation 361 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 17575

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 17575 came on Mar 21 — 5 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 Silver Spring, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17575 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 17575; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Silver Spring, PA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights122nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,008base 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)
Precipitation44.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 20 °F 41°20° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 37 °F 63°37° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Landisville 2 Nw, PA (4 mi away); precipitation: Lancaster 5.8 Wnw, PA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

175387a
Landisville, PA · 2 mi
175547a
Mountville, PA · 2 mi
175127a
Columbia, PA · 3 mi
175207a
East Petersburg, PA · 5 mi
175527a
Mount Joy, PA · 5 mi
176047a
Lancaster, PA · 5 mi
175827a
Washington Boro, PA · 5 mi
176037a
Lancaster, PA · 6 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17575

What planting zone is ZIP code 17575?

ZIP code 17575 (Silver Spring, 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 Silver Spring, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17575 is April 30; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Landisville 2 Nw station.

When is the first frost in Silver Spring, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17575 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 162 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17575?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 17575 get?

About 44.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lancaster 5.8 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Silver Spring, PA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17575 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Duffield at the center of ZIP 17575: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

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

Spring leaf-out near 17575 came on Mar 21 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Silver Spring, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17575 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17575 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17575 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.