Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania planting calendar and frost dates
Pittsburgh is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 27, giving about 186 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 24
- Typical first frost
- October 27
- Frost-free season
- 186 days
Frost dates in Pittsburgh
Last spring frost
- April 9Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 13Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 27Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 7Late: 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 12 and returns around November 5.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 miles NW of the city center. 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 Pittsburgh
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, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, 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, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, 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, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, 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 or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, 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, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, 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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Pittsburgh
All 14 of Pittsburgh's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6b in 15205, 15206, 15207, 15210, 15212, 15213, 15214, 15216, 15217, 15219, 15220, 15226, and 7a in 15201, 15204.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15201 | 7a | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15204 | 7a | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15205 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15206 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15207 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15210 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15212 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15213 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15214 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15216 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15217 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15219 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15220 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
| 15226 | 6b | Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, 6.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 27 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Pittsburgh
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 16 to 30 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Cilantro | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Basil | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 11 to 18 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 12 to 19 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Onions | Jan 2 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 23 to Mar 23 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 3 to 24 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 28 to Jun 4 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 6 to 20 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 11 to Sep 8 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Spinach | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 18 to Sep 22 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 24 to May 15 | — |
| Zinnias | May 18 to 25 | Jun 15 to 29 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 15 to Nov 10 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 15 to Oct 27 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 15 to 29 |
Nearby cities
- Youngstown, OH zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Canton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Akron, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Cuyahoga Falls, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Parma, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Cleveland, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
Planting in PennsylvaniaAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Pittsburgh
Questions
When is the last frost in Pittsburgh?
Around April 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 11.
What planting zone is Pittsburgh in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Pittsburgh?
Start seeds indoors March 16 to 30 and set plants out May 11 to 25.
When is the first frost in Pittsburgh?
Around October 27 in a typical year, and before October 13 about 1 year in 10.