USDA zone 7a in Pennsylvania
USDA plant hardiness zone 7a covers 50 locations across Pennsylvania (average annual extreme minimum 0 to 5 °F): Adamstown, PA, Avondale, PA, Bethlehem, PA, Blue Bell, PA, Boiling Springs, PA, Carlisle, PA, and 44 more. Average last spring frost across this group ranges April 1 (Susquehanna Trails) to May 8 (Lake), and growing seasons run 160–221 days (Lake to Susquehanna Trails) — even within one state, because hardiness sets winter survival, not planting dates. The table below gives every Pennsylvania location's own frost dates; the printable planting calendar uses Gilbertsville, this group's median-season location.
- USDA zone
- 7a0 to 5 °F
- Last frost range
- Apr 1–May 8avg, 32°F
- First frost range
- Oct 10–Nov 10avg, 32°F
- Growing season range
- 160–221days
Locations in this group
Every location below shares this zone and a nearby weather station, but keeps its own frost dates — find your town for its own numbers, or use the ZIP planner on the home page for an instant personalized answer.
| Location | Also covers | Nearest station | Last frost | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adamstown | Stouchsburg, Denver, Sinking Spring, Reinholds, Robesonia, Wernersville, +3 more | Blue Marsh Lake | Apr 26 | Oct 19 | 176 |
| Avondale | — | Avondale 2 N | Apr 19 | Oct 26 | 189 |
| Bethlehem | Allentown, Breinigsville, Emmaus, Schnecksville, Wescosville, Middletown, +11 more | Allentown Intl Ap | Apr 20 | Oct 24 | 184 |
| Blue Bell | Norristown, Spring House, North Wales | Norristown | Apr 8 | Oct 31 | 203 |
| Boiling Springs | Gettysburg, Cashtown, McKnightstown, Aspers, Arendtsville, Idaville, +2 more | Biglerville | Apr 15 | Oct 27 | 194 |
| Carlisle | Schlusser | Carlisle Wtp | Apr 23 | Oct 18 | 177 |
| Carroll Valley | Walkersville, Taneytown, Thurmont, Libertytown, Emmitsburg, Union Bridge, +4 more | Emmitsburg 2 Se | Apr 22 | Oct 20 | 179 |
| Chambersburg | Fort Loudon, Waynesboro, Fayetteville, Marion, Scotland, Mont Alto, +3 more | Chambersburg 1 Ese | Apr 18 | Oct 25 | 188 |
| Downingtown | West Chester, Unionville | W Chester 2 Nw | Apr 26 | Oct 18 | 174 |
| East York | Tyler Run, Jacobus, Dallastown, Windsor | York 3 Ssw Pump Stn | Apr 26 | Oct 19 | 177 |
| Elverson | — | Hopewell Morgantown | Apr 16 | Oct 27 | 193 |
| Erie | Northwest Harborcreek, Lake | Erie Intl Ap | Apr 26 | Nov 4 | 192 |
| Fort Indiantown Gap | Cornwall, Campbelltown, Schaefferstown, Fredericksburg, Annville, Quentin, +6 more | Lebanon 2 W | Apr 20 | Oct 25 | 185 |
| Georgetown | Nottingham, Kirkwood, Oxford, Wakefield, Rising Sun, Quarryville, +4 more | Octoraro Lake | Apr 26 | Oct 22 | 179 |
| Gilbertsville * | Pottsgrove, Kenilworth, New Berlinville, Boyertown, Spring Mount, Bechtelsville, +1 more | Pottstown Limerick Ap | Apr 20 | Oct 23 | 186 |
| Glenmoore | — | Glenmoore | Apr 11 | Nov 1 | 205 |
| Granville | Mexico, Burnham, Atkinson Mills, Loysville, Mattawana, Port Royal, +5 more | Lewistown | Apr 21 | Oct 24 | 185 |
| Harrisburg | Colonial Park, Linglestown, Schlusser, Marysville, Camp Hill, Lemoyne, +8 more | Harrisburg 1 Ne | Apr 15 | Oct 23 | 189 |
| Hellertown | Palmer Heights, Riegelsville, Coopersburg, Bloomsbury, Glendon, DeSales University | Springtown 1 Nne | Apr 21 | Oct 22 | 184 |
| Hershey | Elizabethtown, Middletown, Steelton, Bainbridge, Valley Green, Hummelstown, +5 more | Middletown Harrisburg Intl Ap | Apr 9 | Nov 2 | 206 |
| Horsham | Hatboro | Philadelphia Ne Ap | Apr 4 | Nov 7 | 216 |
| Huntingdon | Marklesburg, Allenport, Rockhill, Saltillo, Shirleysburg, Newton Hamilton | Raystown Lake 2 | Apr 19 | Oct 28 | 191 |
| King of Prussia | Phoenixville, Exton, Trooper, Wayne, Frazer, Villanova, +12 more | Phoenixville 1 E | Apr 18 | Oct 27 | 192 |
| Lake | — | Springboro 3 Wnw | May 8 | Oct 16 | 160 |
| Lancaster | Leola, Brownstown, Millersville, Lampeter, Witmer, Akron, +4 more | Lancaster 2ne Fltr Plt | Apr 19 | Oct 24 | 186 |
| Landisburg | — | Bloserville 1 N | Apr 18 | Oct 26 | 191 |
| Lansdale | Skippack, Schwenksville | Graterford 1 E | Apr 24 | Oct 15 | 173 |
| Levittown | Richboro, Churchville, Newtown, Trevose, Langhorne, Ivyland | Neshaminy Falls | Apr 21 | Oct 25 | 185 |
| Linglestown | Skyline View | Dehart Dam | May 1 | Oct 16 | 168 |
| Maytown | Columbia, Mount Joy, Lititz, Washington Boro, Rheems, Manheim, +5 more | Landisville 2 Nw | Apr 30 | Oct 10 | 162 |
| McKees Rocks | Leetsdale, Emsworth | Pittsburgh Intl Ap | Apr 23 | Oct 23 | 181 |
| Millersburg | — | Selinsgrove 2 S | Apr 25 | Oct 22 | 178 |
| Montgomeryville | Plumsteadville, Doylestown, New Britain | Doylestown Ap | Apr 13 | Oct 30 | 198 |
| Montgomeryville | Harleysville, Plumsteadville, Quakertown, Chalfont, Sellersville, Souderton, +11 more | Sellersville | Apr 26 | Oct 17 | 175 |
| Montgomeryville | — | Willow Grove Nas | Apr 11 | Nov 1 | 205 |
| Needmore | Warfordsburg | Everett | Apr 27 | Oct 17 | 170 |
| Nemacolin | Edenborn, Buffington | Uniontown 1 Ne | Apr 30 | Oct 18 | 171 |
| New Morgan | Georgetown, Ephrata, Gap, Bowmansville, New Holland, Intercourse, +7 more | New Holland 2 Se | Apr 14 | Nov 1 | 198 |
| Pittsburgh | — | Pittsburgh Allegheny Co Ap | Apr 18 | Oct 28 | 193 |
| Pittsburgh | — | Emsworth L/d Ohio Rvr | Apr 24 | Oct 27 | 186 |
| Plainfield | Newville, East Waterford, Shippensburg University, Newburg, Shirleysburg, Orrstown, +1 more | Shippensburg | Apr 19 | Oct 24 | 188 |
| Plumsteadville | Milford, Frenchtown, Stockton | Bucksville | Apr 29 | Oct 16 | 170 |
| Reading | New Morgan, Wyomissing, Blandon, Alleghenyville, Jacksonwald, Birdsboro, +8 more | Reading Spaatz Fld | Apr 14 | Oct 29 | 197 |
| Susquehanna Trails | Conestoga, Fawn Grove, Felton, Windsor | Safe Harbor Dam | Apr 1 | Nov 10 | 221 |
| Thorndale | South Coatesville, Glenmoore, Parkesburg, Pomeroy, Sadsburyville | Coatesville 2 W | Apr 19 | Oct 25 | 190 |
| Three Springs | — | Altoona Blair Co Ap | Apr 23 | Oct 21 | 177 |
| Topton | — | Rodale Rsch Ctr | Apr 26 | Oct 14 | 171 |
| West Hamburg | Friedensburg, Auburn, Summit Station, Virginville, Bethel, Cressona, +8 more | Hamburg | Apr 16 | Oct 25 | 189 |
| Wilkes-Barre | Duryea, Old Forge | Wilkes-barre Intl Ap | Apr 23 | Oct 20 | 178 |
| York | Shiloh, Emigsville, Lake Meade, Seven Valleys, Loganville, Spring Grove, +5 more | York Ap | Apr 27 | Oct 18 | 174 |
* Gilbertsville is this group's median-season location — the calendar below is computed from its data.
Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.
Planting calendar (Gilbertsville, representative)
Computed from Gilbertsville's average frost dates — the median-season location in this Pennsylvaniazone 7a group. hatched = start seeds indoors, solid green = plant out, teal = a fall sowing, and the terracotta dot marks the estimated first harvest. Ranges are extension-guide planning guidance, not guarantees — your own location's dates may run a week or two earlier or later (see the table above).
- Start indoors
- Plant out
- Fall sowing
- First harvest
| Crop | Frost tolerance | Start indoors | Plant out | First harvest | Fall planting | Season fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Tender | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 4 | Jun 26 – Jul 16 | — | matures comfortably |
| Pepper | Very tender | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 11 | Jul 3 – Aug 2 | — | matures comfortably |
| Cucumber | Tender | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | Apr 27 – May 4 | Jun 16 – Jul 6 | — | matures comfortably |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Tender | — | Apr 27 – May 4 | Jun 11 – Jun 26 | — | matures comfortably |
| Bush bean | Tender | — | Apr 27 – May 4 | Jun 16 – Jun 26 | Aug 24 – Sep 3 | matures comfortably |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jun 19 – Jul 19 | — | matures comfortably |
| Basil | Very tender | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 27 – May 4 | May 27 – Jun 11 | — | matures comfortably |
| Lettuce | Half-hardy | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 7 – May 22 | Aug 10 – Aug 25 | matures comfortably |
| Pea | Hardy | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 3 – May 18 | Jul 31 – Aug 15 | matures comfortably |
| Spinach | Hardy | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 18 – Apr 28 | Aug 20 – Aug 30 | matures comfortably |
| Carrot | Half-hardy | — | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | May 29 – Jun 18 | Jul 21 – Aug 10 | matures comfortably |
| Broccoli | Half-hardy | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 17 – Jun 6 | Jul 26 – Aug 15 | matures comfortably |
Which crops fit this growing season
Using Gilbertsville's own 186-day growing season (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020 median) against each crop's real days-to-maturity range: 12 of 12 crops mature here with comfortable margin. A different location in the table above with a longer or shorter season will get a different mix — the ZIP planner on the home page gives your own.
Frost & freeze dates (Gilbertsville)
From NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals at station USW00054782. The median (p50) is the average date; the 90%-safe column is the date the freeze has passed in about 9 years out of 10 — the conservative date to plant after or harvest before.
| Threshold | Last spring — avg | Last spring — 90%-safe | First fall — avg | First fall — 90%-safe | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 2 | May 19 | Oct 12 | Oct 26 | 162 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 20 | May 6 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 | 186 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Apr 21 | Nov 3 | Nov 18 | 212 |
| 24°F | Mar 26 | Apr 8 | Nov 15 | Dec 3 | 235 |
Growing degree days
Growing degree days (GDD) accumulate warmth above a base temperature over the year — a better predictor of crop development than the calendar alone. This group's median GDD (base 50°F) across all 50 locations is 3,230; Gilbertsville's own reading is shown below.
| Model | °F·days | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Base 50°F (warm-season) | 3,108 | standard warm-season base (tomato, corn, beans) |
| Base 40°F (cool-season) | 5,394 | cool-season crops (brassicas, greens) |
Hardiness zone 7a in Pennsylvania
Zone 7a means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of about 0 to 5 °F on the USDA's 2023 map — the number that tells you which perennials, shrubs, and trees reliably survive an average winter here. It does not set your planting dates, which come from the frost calendar above. Pennsylvania spans 7 hardiness zones in this dataset — see all Pennsylvania locations for the full range, including zones5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7b, 8a.
Explore zone 7a in other states at zone 7a, or see all USDA hardiness zones.
Frequently asked questions
- What does USDA hardiness zone 7a mean in Pennsylvania?
- Zone 7a means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of 0 to 5 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 50 locations in Pennsylvania fall in this zone. It does not set planting dates; see the frost calendar below for that.
- Where in Pennsylvania's zone 7a is the growing season longest?
- Susquehanna Trails runs the longest season on this page at about 221 days; Lake is shortest at about 160 days — they share the same hardiness zone, but they sit at different weather stations, so their frost calendars differ.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Pennsylvania's zone 7a?
- Using Gilbertsville's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Feb 23 – Mar 9, then transplant outside about Apr 27 – May 4. Your own location in the table above may differ by a week or two — use the ZIP planner on the home page for your exact station's dates.
- Does every location in Pennsylvania's zone 7a have the same frost dates?
- No — they do not all share a weather station, so frost dates vary by a week or more across the 50 locations listed (see the table above for each location's own dates).
Sources & method
Frost, freeze, growing-season, and growing-degree-day figures are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, one reading per location's own nearest station (see the table above). The hardiness zone is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP. Planting windows are computed by counting from the average last and first frost using per-crop offsets synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides — the full method and citations are on the methodology page.