When to plant in Pennsylvania
Most of Pennsylvania sees its last spring frost between Apr 9 and May 10, and its first fall frost between Oct 6 and Nov 4. The middle of the state is around April 26 and October 21: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Pennsylvania: 5b (3%), 6a (24%), 6b (36%), 7a (29%), 7b (7%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 24 | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 21 – Oct 13 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 10 | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 26 – Oct 18 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 6 – Aug 24 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 1 – Sep 9 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 12 – May 26 | Aug 15 – Sep 19 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 6 – Aug 17 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 15 – Mar 29 | May 14 – Jun 18 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 26 – Aug 23 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | May 13 – Jun 24 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 15 – Mar 29 | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | Sep 11 – Sep 25 |
| Kale | Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | May 23 – Aug 15 | Sep 10 – Sep 24 |
| Broccoli | Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Jun 4 – Jul 9 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 |
| Cabbage | Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Jun 7 – Jul 12 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Jun 14 – Jul 26 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| Beet | — | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 30 – Jul 11 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 |
| Radish | — | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Apr 16 – May 14 | Sep 12 – Sep 26 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Jun 30 – Aug 4 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 14 – Nov 4 (fall) | Jun 21 – Jul 12 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Jul 4 – Aug 8 | — |
| Sweet potato | Apr 5 | May 17 – May 31 | Aug 25 – Sep 22 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 17 – May 31 | Aug 10 – Sep 14 | — |
| Basil | Mar 31 | May 12 – May 26 | Jun 11 – Sep 17 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 24 – Jun 21 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 31 – Sep 4 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Pennsylvania. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Pennsylvania
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 7b | Mar 30 | Nov 17 |
| Pittsburgh | 6b | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| Harrisburg | 7a | Apr 15 | Oct 23 |
| Erie | 7a | Apr 26 | Nov 4 |
| Wilkes Barre | 6b | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Reading | 7a | Apr 14 | Oct 29 |
| Scranton | 6b | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Lancaster | 7a | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
| Johnstown | 6b | Apr 29 | Oct 21 |
| Allentown | 7a | Apr 20 | Oct 24 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.