Lancaster, Pennsylvania planting calendar and frost dates
Lancaster is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 19 and the first fall frost around October 24, giving about 186 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 19
- Typical first frost
- October 24
- Frost-free season
- 186 days
Frost dates in Lancaster
Last spring frost
- April 5Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 19Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 9Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 6Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 186 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 5 and returns around November 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lancaster 2ne Fltr Plt, 2.9 miles NNW of the city center and 120 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Lancaster
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Lancaster
All 3 of Lancaster's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Lancaster 2ne Fltr Plt, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lancaster
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 13 to 27 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 12 to 26 | Jul 25 to Aug 29 |
| Cilantro | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 8 to 15 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 24 to Nov 7 |
| Onions | Dec 28 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 10 to 24 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 10 to 24 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 20 to Mar 20 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Aug 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 25 to Jun 1 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 3 to 17 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 10 to 24 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 to 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 8 to Sep 5 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 19 to May 10 | — |
| Zinnias | May 14 to 21 | Jun 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 12 to Nov 7 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 12 to Oct 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 12 to 26 |
Nearby cities
- Reading, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 14
- Harrisburg, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Wilmington, DE zone 7b, last frost Apr 7
- Baltimore, MD zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Allentown, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 20
- Philadelphia, PA zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
Planting in PennsylvaniaAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Lancaster
Questions
When is the last frost in Lancaster?
Around April 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lancaster 2ne Fltr Plt. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 7.
What planting zone is Lancaster in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lancaster?
Start seeds indoors March 13 to 27 and set plants out May 8 to 22.
When is the first frost in Lancaster?
Around October 24 in a typical year, and before October 9 about 1 year in 10.