Bloomsburg, PA planting zone & frost dates
Bloomsburg is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 27 and the first fall frost around October 20, for a growing season of about 172 days.
Planting calendar for Bloomsburg
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 27) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Mar 2 – Mar 16 Transplant outdoors: May 4 – May 11 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 16 – Mar 2 Transplant outdoors: May 11 – May 18 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 16 – Mar 2 Transplant outdoors: May 11 – May 18 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 16 – Mar 2 Transplant outdoors: Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 16 – Mar 2 Transplant outdoors: Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 4 – May 11 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 4 – May 11 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 4 – May 11 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 4 – May 11 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 16 – Mar 30 Transplant outdoors: May 4 – May 11 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 25 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 20).
Useful for zone 6b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 12 | Apr 27 | May 15 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 5 | Oct 20 | Oct 4 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 15, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 4. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 13.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Bloomsburg
- 17815 zone 6b
Nearby cities
- Berwick zone 6b, last frost May 4
- Pottsville zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Hazleton zone 6b, last frost Apr 30
- Nanticoke zone 6b, last frost May 7
- Back Mountain zone 6a, last frost Apr 23
- Williamsport zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
- Mountain Top zone 6b, last frost May 7
- Kingston zone 6b, last frost Apr 23
Questions
What growing zone is Bloomsburg, PA?
Bloomsburg is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average extreme winter low -5°F to 0°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Bloomsburg?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Bloomsburg is April 27. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 15.
When can I plant tomatoes in Bloomsburg?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 4 – May 11. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Bear Gap, PA (USC00360457), 20.7 km (12.9 mi) from the city center, elevation 309 m, based on 12 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.