Reading, Pennsylvania planting calendar and frost dates
Reading is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 14 and the first fall frost around October 29, giving about 197 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 14
- Typical first frost
- October 29
- Frost-free season
- 197 days
Frost dates in Reading
Last spring frost
- April 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 14Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 30Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 13Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 29Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 10Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 197 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 1 and returns around November 8.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Reading Spaatz Fld, 1.6 miles WNW of the city center and 123 feet higher. 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 Reading
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, 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, 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, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, 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: 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, 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, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Reading
All 7 of Reading's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Reading Spaatz Fld, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19601 | 7a | Reading Spaatz Fld, 1.6 mi WNW | Apr 14 | Oct 29 |
| 19602 | 7a | Reading Spaatz Fld, 3.8 mi NW | Apr 14 | Oct 29 |
| 19604 | 7a | Reading Spaatz Fld, 3.1 mi W | Apr 14 | Oct 29 |
| 19605 | 7a | Reading Spaatz Fld, 2.5 mi SSW | Apr 14 | Oct 29 |
| 19606 | 7a | Reading Spaatz Fld, 6.1 mi WNW | Apr 14 | Oct 29 |
| 19607 | 7a | Reading Spaatz Fld, 5.3 mi NNW | Apr 14 | Oct 29 |
| 19611 | 7a | Reading Spaatz Fld, 3.2 mi NNW | Apr 14 | Oct 29 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Reading
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 13 to 27 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 3 to 17 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 7 to 21 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Cilantro | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Basil | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 8 to 15 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 3 to 17 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Onions | Dec 23 to Feb 3 | Mar 17 to 31 | — |
| 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 24 to Apr 14 | Aug 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 25 to Jun 1 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 3 to 17 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 10 to 24 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 27 to Feb 17 | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Peas | — | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Mar 3 to 10 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 14 to May 5 | — |
| Zinnias | May 13 to 20 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 17 to Nov 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 17 to Oct 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 3 to 17 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
Nearby cities
- Lancaster, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 19
- Allentown, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 20
- Bethlehem, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 20
- Wilmington, DE zone 7b, last frost Apr 7
- Philadelphia, PA zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- Harrisburg, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
Planting in PennsylvaniaAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Reading
Questions
When is the last frost in Reading?
Around April 14 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Reading Spaatz Fld. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 30.
What planting zone is Reading 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 Reading?
Start seeds indoors March 13 to 27 and set plants out May 8 to 22.
When is the first frost in Reading?
Around October 29 in a typical year, and before October 13 about 1 year in 10.