Scranton, Pennsylvania planting calendar and frost dates
Scranton is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 23 and the first fall frost around October 20, giving about 178 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 23
- Typical first frost
- October 20
- Frost-free season
- 178 days
Frost dates in Scranton
Last spring frost
- April 9Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 4Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 20Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 178 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 10 and returns around November 3.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Wilkes-Barre International Airport, 5.5 miles SW of the city center and 331 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 Scranton
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, tomatoes, 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, 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: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, 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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, 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, 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 Scranton
All 6 of Scranton's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Wilkes-Barre International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18504 | 6b | Wilkes-Barre International Airport, 6.3 mi S | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 18505 | 6b | Wilkes-Barre International Airport, 5.5 mi SW | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 18507 | 6b | Wilkes-Barre International Airport, 2.9 mi SW | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 18508 | 6b | Wilkes-Barre International Airport, 9.1 mi SSW | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 18509 | 6b | Wilkes-Barre International Airport, 8 mi SSW | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 18510 | 6b | Wilkes-Barre International Airport, 6.7 mi SW | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Scranton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 16 to 30 | Jul 21 to Aug 25 |
| Cilantro | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Basil | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | May 13 to 20 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
| Onions | Jan 1 to Feb 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 25 to Mar 25 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 2 to 23 | Jul 28 to Aug 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 8 to 22 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 5 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 4 to Sep 1 |
| Peas | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Spinach | Mar 12 to 19 | Apr 16 to 30 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 23 to May 14 | — |
| Zinnias | May 22 to 29 | Jun 19 to Jul 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 8 to Nov 3 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 8 to Oct 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 8 to 22 |
Nearby cities
- Bethlehem, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 20
- Allentown, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 20
- Reading, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 14
- Plainfield, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 11
- Paterson, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 3
- Clifton, NJ zone 7a, last frost Apr 3
Planting in PennsylvaniaAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Scranton
Questions
When is the last frost in Scranton?
Around April 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Wilkes-Barre International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 10.
What planting zone is Scranton in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Scranton?
Start seeds indoors March 18 to April 1 and set plants out May 13 to 27.
When is the first frost in Scranton?
Around October 20 in a typical year, and before October 4 about 1 year in 10.