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

Planting zone for 18969 — Telford, PA

ZIP code 18969 (Telford, Montgomery County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 18969 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 17
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Telford, 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 Telford, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Sellersville, PA — 4 miles away, elevation 302 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 18969

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 18969 came on Mar 24 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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).

Soil in Telford, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 18969 is Abbottstown — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Abbottstown silt loam, 3 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 18969; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Telford, PA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days15days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights131nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,059base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 03 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 17 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation51.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall22 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.64 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 3.6❄6 JanFebruary: 3.06 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 3.1❄6 FebMarch: 4.44 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 4.4❄5 MarApril: 4.09 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 4.1❄1 AprMay: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 AugSeptember: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 3.46 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.5 NovDecember: 4.44 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 4.4❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sellersville, PA (4 mi away); precipitation: Sellersville, PA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

189187a
Earlington, PA · <1 mi
189717a
Tylersport, PA · 2 mi
189647a
Souderton, PA · 2 mi
194417a
Harleysville, PA · 3 mi
189607a
Sellersville, PA · 4 mi
194387a
Harleysville, PA · 4 mi
180547a
Green Lane, PA · 4 mi
189587a
Salfordville, PA · 4 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 18969

What planting zone is ZIP code 18969?

ZIP code 18969 (Telford, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Telford, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 18969 is April 26; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sellersville station.

When is the first frost in Telford, PA?

The median first fall frost near 18969 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 18969?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 18969 get?

About 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 22 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sellersville station).

How hot do summers get in Telford, PA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 15 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 18969 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Abbottstown at the center of ZIP 18969: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Telford, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 18969 came on Mar 24 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Telford, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 18969 is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 18969 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 18969 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.