Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 18326 — Cresco, PA

ZIP code 18326 (Cresco, Monroe County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 18326 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 frostMay 6

First frostOct 8

2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — a full 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 Cresco, 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 Cresco, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 27

Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Mt Pocono Mountains Airport, PA — 7 miles away, elevation 1,916 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 18326

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8

SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29

LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29

TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25

TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3

BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27

Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27

GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 18326 came on Apr 2 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

average
Apr 112026
Apr 2

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.

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 Cresco, PA.

Soil in Cresco, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 18326 is Freetown — mucky peat, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer

DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds

Organic matter74.5%high

Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mucky peat, deep.

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 18326; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cresco, PA

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July

Winter low15 °Faverage low, January

Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights147nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days2,069base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)

Precipitation49.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Pocono Mountains Airport, PA (7 mi away); precipitation: Canadensis E, PA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

183236b

Buck Hill Falls, PA · 3 mi

183426a

Mountainhome, PA · 3 mi

183326b

Henryville, PA · 4 mi

183446a

Mount Pocono, PA · 5 mi

Swiftwater, PA · 7 mi

184666a

Tobyhanna, PA · 7 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 18326

What planting zone is ZIP code 18326?

ZIP code 18326 (Cresco, 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 Cresco, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 18326 is May 6; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Pocono Mountains Airport station.

When is the first frost in Cresco, PA?

The median first fall frost near 18326 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 18326?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 18326 get?

About 49.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Canadensis E station).

How hot do summers get in Cresco, PA?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 18326 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Freetown at the center of ZIP 18326: mucky peat, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Cresco, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 18326 came on Apr 2 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cresco, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 18326 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 18326 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 18326 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.