Pennsylvania frost dates
Typical and safer frost dates for 1 cities in Pennsylvania, each from its nearest NOAA station. Elevation matters here as much as latitude, so check the city closest to you.
| City | Last frost · typical | Last frost · safer | First frost · typical | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Mar 30 | Apr 12 | Nov 17 | 232 |
Planting calendar for Philadelphia
The largest city we cover in Pennsylvania. Other cities: see their own page.
Frost dates
Mar 30
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 12. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Nov 17
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Nov 4. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
232
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 232 days. Station: Phila Franklin Inst, PA, 7 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
February
The next window opens in February.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 1
- Start indoors
- Feb 1 – Feb 15
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 26
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 1
- Start indoors
- Feb 1 – Feb 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 26
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 26
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 15 – Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow for fall
- Aug 12 – Aug 26
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 15 – Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow for fall
- Aug 12 – Aug 26
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 22 – Apr 12
- Sow for fall
- Aug 12 – Aug 26
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 22 – Mar 22
- Sow for fall
- Aug 12 – Aug 26
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Feb 15
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 5 – Apr 12
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
March
The next window opens in March.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 29
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 29
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 1
- Start indoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 1
- Start indoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 1
- Start indoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 15
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 19
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 19
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 22
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow for fall
- Aug 12 – Aug 26
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Apr 12
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 22
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 22 – Mar 22
- Sow for fall
- Aug 12 – Aug 26
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 22
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 22 – Mar 22
- Sow for fall
- Aug 12 – Aug 26
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 5
April
The next window opens in April.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 12
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 19
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 26 – Apr 26
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 23
- Sow for fall
- Sep 23 – Sep 23
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.