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

Planting zone for 18330 — Effort, PA

ZIP code 18330 (Effort, 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 18330 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 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 Effort, 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 Effort, 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 — 12 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 18330

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 18330 came on Apr 2 — 7 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 Effort, PA.

Soil in Effort, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 18330 is Leck Kill — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Leck kill channery silt loam, 2 to 8 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 18330; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Effort, 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 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)
Precipitation50.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 15 °F 30°15° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 17 °F 33°17° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 50 °F 69°50° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 30 °F 46°30° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 21 °F 35°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.45 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 MarApril: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 5.59 in precipitation 5.6 SepOctober: 5.15 in precipitation 5.2 OctNovember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 NovDecember: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Pocono Mountains Airport, PA (12 mi away); precipitation: Mt Pocono Mountains Airport, PA (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

183316b
Gilbert, PA · 4 mi
183226b
Brodheadsville, PA · 4 mi
183336b
Kresgeville, PA · 5 mi
180586b
Kunkletown, PA · 6 mi
183536b
Saylorsburg, PA · 7 mi
183546b
Sciota, PA · 7 mi
183346a
Long Pond, PA · 8 mi
182106a
Albrightsville, PA · 8 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 18330

What planting zone is ZIP code 18330?

ZIP code 18330 (Effort, 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 Effort, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 18330 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 Effort, PA?

The median first fall frost near 18330 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 18330?

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 18330 get?

About 50.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Pocono Mountains Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Effort, 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 18330 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Leck Kill at the center of ZIP 18330: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Effort, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 18330 came on Apr 2 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Effort, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 18330 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 18330 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 18330 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.