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

Planting zone for 17872 — Shamokin, PA

ZIP code 17872 (Shamokin, Northumberland County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 17872 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 13
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Shamokin, 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 Shamokin, 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 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season166 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Sunbury, PA — 9 miles away, elevation 574 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 17872

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 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 17872 came on Mar 31 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9).

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 6b in Pennsylvania

605 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 76

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 122

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 209

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 173

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 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Shamokin, PA.

Soil in Shamokin, PA

The center of ZIP 17872 is mapped as Udorthents, sandstone and shale: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 17872; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shamokin, PA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights134nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,859base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall29 inper year; 40 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 19 °F 35°19° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 60 °F 84°60° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.98 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 3.0❄8 JanFebruary: 2.30 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 2.3❄9 FebMarch: 3.33 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 3.3❄5 MarApril: 3.74 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.7❄1 AprMay: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.92 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.9 OctNovember: 3.16 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 3.2❄2 NovDecember: 3.34 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 3.3❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sunbury, PA (9 mi away); precipitation: Sunbury, PA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

178816b
Trevorton, PA · 2 mi
178676b
Rebuck, PA · 3 mi
178236b
Dornsife, PA · 5 mi
178666b
Coal Township, PA · 5 mi
178366b
Leck Kill, PA · 5 mi
179416b
Klingerstown, PA · 6 mi
178016b
Sunbury, PA · 7 mi
178606b
Paxinos, PA · 7 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17872

What planting zone is ZIP code 17872?

ZIP code 17872 (Shamokin, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Shamokin, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17872 is April 30; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sunbury station.

When is the first frost in Shamokin, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17872 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 166 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17872?

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 17872 get?

About 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 29 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sunbury station).

How hot do summers get in Shamokin, PA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Shamokin, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17872 came on Mar 31 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shamokin, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17872 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17872 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17872 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.