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

Planting zone for 18424 — Gouldsboro, PA

ZIP code 18424 (Gouldsboro, Wayne County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 18424 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 8
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gouldsboro, 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 Gouldsboro, 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 — 10 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 18424

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 18424 came on Apr 8 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 6a in Pennsylvania

598 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 121

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 207

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 170

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 9

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Gouldsboro, PA.

Soil in Gouldsboro, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 18424 is Volusia — channery silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter10%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Volusia channery silt loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes, rubbly.

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 18424; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gouldsboro, 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)
Precipitation48.4 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: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.60 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 5.56 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 4.99 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Pocono Mountains Airport, PA (10 mi away); precipitation: Sterling - 22, 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.

183476a
Pocono Lake, PA · 6 mi
184446a
Moscow, PA · 7 mi
184666a
Tobyhanna, PA · 8 mi
183466a
Pocono Summit, PA · 9 mi
184456a
Newfoundland, PA · 9 mi
184606a
South Sterling, PA · 9 mi
184166b
Elmhurst, PA · 9 mi
183506a
Pocono Pines, PA · 9 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 18424

What planting zone is ZIP code 18424?

ZIP code 18424 (Gouldsboro, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Gouldsboro, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 18424 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 Gouldsboro, PA?

The median first fall frost near 18424 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 18424?

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 18424 get?

About 48.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sterling - 22 station).

How hot do summers get in Gouldsboro, 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 18424 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Volusia at the center of ZIP 18424: channery silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Gouldsboro, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 18424 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gouldsboro, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 18424 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 18424 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 18424 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.