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

Planting zone for 18327 — Delaware Water Gap, PA

ZIP code 18327 (Delaware Water Gap, Monroe County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 18327 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 1
First frostOct 12
2012 zone6b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Delaware Water Gap, 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 Delaware Water Gap, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season163 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station E Stroudsburg, PA — 4 miles away, elevation 472 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 18327

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 18327 came on Apr 1 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 Delaware Water Gap, PA.

Soil in Delaware Water Gap, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 18327 is Oquaga — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Oquaga-Lackawanna complex, 8 to 25 percent slopes, extremely stony.

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 18327; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Delaware Water Gap, PA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights137nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,873base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation53.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall42 inper year; 47 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 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°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″6″January: 3.78 in precipitation, 11.3 in snowfall 3.8❄11 JanFebruary: 3.12 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 3.1❄10 FebMarch: 4.04 in precipitation, 9.5 in snowfall 4.0❄10 MarApril: 4.31 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.3❄1 AprMay: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 SepOctober: 5.24 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.2 OctNovember: 3.89 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 3.9❄2 NovDecember: 4.42 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 4.4❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: E Stroudsburg, PA (4 mi away); precipitation: E Stroudsburg, PA (4 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.

183416b
Minisink Hills, PA · 1 mi
183566b
Shawnee On Delaware, PA · 3 mi
183016b
East Stroudsburg, PA · 4 mi
183516b
Portland, PA · 5 mi
078326b
Columbia, NJ · 5 mi
183356b
Marshalls Creek, PA · 6 mi
183436b
Mount Bethel, PA · 7 mi
078337a
Delaware, NJ · 7 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 18327

What planting zone is ZIP code 18327?

ZIP code 18327 (Delaware Water Gap, 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 Delaware Water Gap, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 18327 is May 1; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, E Stroudsburg station.

When is the first frost in Delaware Water Gap, PA?

The median first fall frost near 18327 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 163 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 18327?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 18327 get?

About 53.5 inches of precipitation a year and 42 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, E Stroudsburg station).

How hot do summers get in Delaware Water Gap, PA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 18327 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Oquaga at the center of ZIP 18327: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Delaware Water Gap, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 18327 came on Apr 1 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Delaware Water Gap, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 18327 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).