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

Planting zone for 18430 — Herrick Center, PA

ZIP code 18430 (Herrick Center, Susquehanna County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 18430 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 14
First frostOct 1
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Herrick Center, 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 Herrick Center, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season140 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA — within 1 mile, elevation 1,801 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 18430

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 18430 came on Apr 12 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 5b in Pennsylvania

572 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 75

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 113

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 198

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 166

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 8

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 honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Herrick Center, PA.

Soil in Herrick Center, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 18430 is Lackawanna — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Lackawanna channery silt loam, 12 to 20 percent slopes, eroded.

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 18430; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Herrick Center, PA

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights169nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,887base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation51.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall69 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 12 °F 29°12° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 19 °F 34°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.50 in precipitation, 17.3 in snowfall 3.5❄17 JanFebruary: 3.02 in precipitation, 17.7 in snowfall 3.0❄18 FebMarch: 3.57 in precipitation, 13 in snowfall 3.6❄13 MarApril: 4.22 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 4.2❄1 AprMay: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 5.01 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 SepOctober: 4.97 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 5.0 OctNovember: 3.83 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 3.8❄5 NovDecember: 3.97 in precipitation, 14.6 in snowfall 4.0❄15 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

184705b
Union Dale, PA · 3 mi
184495b
Orson, PA · 5 mi
184216a
Forest City, PA · 5 mi
184535b
Pleasant Mount, PA · 6 mi
184545b
Poyntelle, PA · 6 mi
184655b
Thompson, PA · 7 mi
184136a
Clifford, PA · 7 mi
188426a
South Gibson, PA · 7 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 18430

What planting zone is ZIP code 18430?

ZIP code 18430 (Herrick Center, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Herrick Center, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 18430 is May 14; after May 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pleasant Mt 1 W station.

When is the first frost in Herrick Center, PA?

The median first fall frost near 18430 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 140 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 18430?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 18430 get?

About 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 69 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pleasant Mt 1 W station).

How hot do summers get in Herrick Center, PA?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 18430 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lackawanna at the center of ZIP 18430: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Herrick Center, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 18430 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Herrick Center, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 18430 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).