Lancaster, PA planting zone & frost dates
Lancaster is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost usually comes around April 19 and the first fall frost around October 24, for a growing season of about 186 days.
Planting calendar for Lancaster
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 19) 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: Feb 22 – Mar 8 Transplant outdoors: Apr 26 – May 3 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 8 – Feb 22 Transplant outdoors: May 3 – May 10 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 8 – Feb 22 Transplant outdoors: May 3 – May 10 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 8 – Feb 22 Transplant outdoors: Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 8 – Feb 22 Transplant outdoors: Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 26 – May 3 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 26 – May 3 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 26 – May 3 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 26 – May 3 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 Transplant outdoors: Apr 26 – May 3 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 29 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 24).
Useful for zone 7a 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
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 5 | Apr 19 | May 7 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 6 | Oct 24 | Oct 9 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 7, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 9. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 5.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Lancaster
- 17601 zone 7a
- 17602 zone 7a
- 17603 zone 7a
- 17604 zone 7a
- 17605 zone 7a
- 17606 zone 7a
- 17607 zone 7a
- 17608 zone 7a
- 17611 zone 7a
- 17622 zone 7a
- 17699 zone 7a
Nearby cities
- Ephrata zone 7a, last frost Apr 18
- Columbia zone 7a, last frost Apr 30
- Elizabethtown zone 7a, last frost Apr 9
- Lebanon zone 7a, last frost Apr 20
- Hershey zone 7a, last frost Apr 9
- York zone 7a, last frost Apr 26
- Wyomissing zone 7a, last frost Apr 14
- Reading zone 7a, last frost Apr 14
Questions
What growing zone is Lancaster, PA?
Lancaster is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average extreme winter low 0°F to 5°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Lancaster?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Lancaster is April 19. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 7.
When can I plant tomatoes in Lancaster?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 26 – May 3. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Lancaster 2Ne Fltr Plt, PA (USC00364763), 3.0 km (1.9 mi) from the city center, elevation 82 m, based on 28 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.