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

Planting zone for 19146 — Philadelphia, PA

ZIP code 19146 (Philadelphia, Philadelphia County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost November 17.

Where ZIP 19146 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostMar 30
First frostNov 17
2012 zone7b

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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 17median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season232 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 29.

From the NOAA station Phila Franklin Inst, PA — within 1 mile, elevation 59 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 19146

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 22 – Oct 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 3 – Dec 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 30) and first fall frost (Nov 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 19146 came on Mar 13 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

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 7b in Pennsylvania

625 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 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 79

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 123

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 215

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 182

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 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °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 °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 Philadelphia, PA.

Soil in Philadelphia, PA

The center of ZIP 19146 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 19146; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Philadelphia, PA

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days40days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights62nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,429base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 20 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation50.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year; 15 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 28 °F 42°28° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 36 °F 54°36° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 46 °F 66°46° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 70 °F 87°70° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 63 °F 80°63° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 51 °F 68°51° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 41 °F 56°41° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 33 °F 47°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.61 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 3.6❄6 JanFebruary: 3.34 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 3.3❄4 FebMarch: 4.54 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 4.5❄2 MarApril: 4.00 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.0 AprMay: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 AugSeptember: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.37 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.4 NovDecember: 4.27 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 4.3❄4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

191037b
Philadelphia, PA · 1 mi
191927b
Philadelphia, PA · 1 mi
191097b
Philadelphia, PA · 1 mi
191107b
Philadelphia, PA · 1 mi
191027b
Philadelphia, PA · 1 mi
191767b
Philadelphia, PA · 1 mi
191957b
Philadelphia, PA · 1 mi
190997b
Philadelphia, PA · 1 mi

All 87 ZIP codes in Philadelphia → · Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 19146

What planting zone is ZIP code 19146?

ZIP code 19146 (Philadelphia, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Philadelphia, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 19146 is March 30; after April 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Phila Franklin Inst station.

When is the first frost in Philadelphia, PA?

The median first fall frost near 19146 is November 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 232 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 19146?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 2 – Feb 16 and set transplants outside around Apr 6 – Apr 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 19146 get?

About 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Phila Franklin Inst station).

How hot do summers get in Philadelphia, PA?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 40 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Philadelphia, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 19146 came on Mar 13 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Philadelphia, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 19146 is 15 h 00 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).