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

Planting zone for 17580 — Talmage, PA

ZIP code 17580 (Talmage, Lancaster 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 17580 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 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 Talmage, 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 Talmage, 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 season186 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Lancaster Airport, PA — 4 miles away, elevation 404 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 17580

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 17580 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 Talmage, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17580 is Hagerstown — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.0slightly acidic; 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: Hagerstown silt loam, 0 to 3 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 17580; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Talmage, PA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,426base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 02 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)
Precipitation42.1 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 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°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 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.59 in precipitation 2.6 JanFebruary: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 FebMarch: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 MarApril: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 SepOctober: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

175087a
Brownstown, PA · <1 mi
175407a
Leola, PA · 2 mi
175017a
Akron, PA · 3 mi
175057a
Bird In Hand, PA · 4 mi
175227a
Ephrata, PA · 5 mi
175857a
Witmer, PA · 5 mi
176067a
Lancaster, PA · 5 mi
175767a
Smoketown, PA · 6 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17580

What planting zone is ZIP code 17580?

ZIP code 17580 (Talmage, 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 Talmage, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17580 is April 18; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lancaster Airport station.

When is the first frost in Talmage, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17580 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 186 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17580?

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 17580 get?

About 42.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lancaster Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Talmage, PA?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17580 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hagerstown at the center of ZIP 17580: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Talmage, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17580 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 Talmage, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17580 is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17580 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17580 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.