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

Planting zone for 17960 — New Ringgold, PA

ZIP code 17960 (New Ringgold, Schuylkill County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 17960 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 16
First frostOct 25
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 New Ringgold, 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 New Ringgold, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Hamburg, PA — 11 miles away, elevation 371 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 17960

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
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 16) 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 17960 came on Apr 1 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 New Ringgold, PA.

Soil in New Ringgold, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 17960 is Berks — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Berks channery silt loam, 8 to 15 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 17960; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in New Ringgold, PA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights121nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,237base 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)
Precipitation54.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall43 inper year; 53 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 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 26 °F 42°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.87 in precipitation, 12.6 in snowfall 3.9❄13 JanFebruary: 3.17 in precipitation, 11.6 in snowfall 3.2❄12 FebMarch: 4.26 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 4.3❄8 MarApril: 4.25 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 4.3❄1 AprMay: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 5.97 in precipitation 6.0 JunJuly: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 SepOctober: 4.80 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.8 OctNovember: 4.18 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 4.2❄2 NovDecember: 4.59 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 4.6❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hamburg, PA (11 mi away); precipitation: Tamaqua, PA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

182526b
Tamaqua, PA · 6 mi
195296b
Kempton, PA · 6 mi
179617a
Orwigsburg, PA · 7 mi
179826b
Tuscarora, PA · 7 mi
182116b
Andreas, PA · 7 mi
179526b
Mary D, PA · 8 mi
179256b
Brockton, PA · 8 mi
182186b
Coaldale, PA · 9 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 17960

What planting zone is ZIP code 17960?

ZIP code 17960 (New Ringgold, 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 New Ringgold, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 17960 is April 16; after May 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hamburg station.

When is the first frost in New Ringgold, PA?

The median first fall frost near 17960 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 189 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 17960?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 19 – Mar 5 and set transplants outside around Apr 23 – May 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 17960 get?

About 54.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tamaqua station).

How hot do summers get in New Ringgold, PA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 17960 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Berks at the center of ZIP 17960: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in New Ringgold, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 17960 came on Apr 1 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in New Ringgold, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 17960 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 17960 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 17960 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.