Pittsburgh, PA planting zone & frost dates
Pittsburgh is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 27, for a growing season of about 186 days.
Planting calendar for Pittsburgh
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 24) 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 27 – Mar 13 Transplant outdoors: May 1 – May 8 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 Transplant outdoors: May 8 – May 15 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 Transplant outdoors: May 8 – May 15 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 Transplant outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 Transplant outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 1 – May 8 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 1 – May 8 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 1 – May 8 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 1 – May 8 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 13 – Mar 27 Transplant outdoors: May 1 – May 8 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 1 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 27).
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 9 | Apr 24 | May 11 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 7 | Oct 27 | Oct 13 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 11, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 13. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 12.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Pittsburgh
- 15201 zone 7a
- 15202 zone 6b
- 15203 zone 7a
- 15204 zone 7a
- 15205 zone 6b
- 15206 zone 6b
- 15207 zone 6b
- 15208 zone 6b
- 15209 zone 6b
- 15210 zone 6b
- 15211 zone 6b
- 15212 zone 6b
- 15213 zone 6b
- 15214 zone 6b
- 15215 zone 6b
- 15216 zone 6b
- 15217 zone 6b
- 15218 zone 6b
- 15219 zone 6b
- 15220 zone 6b
- 15221 zone 6b
- 15222 zone 7a
- 15223 zone 6b
- 15224 zone 6b
- 15225 zone 7a
- 15226 zone 6b
- 15227 zone 6b
- 15228 zone 6b
- 15229 zone 6b
- 15230 zone 6b
- 15232 zone 6b
- 15233 zone 7a
- 15234 zone 6b
- 15235 zone 6b
- 15236 zone 6b
- 15237 zone 6b
- 15238 zone 6b
- 15239 zone 6b
- 15240 zone 6b
- 15241 zone 6b
- 15242 zone 6b
- 15243 zone 6b
- 15244 zone 6b
- 15250 zone 7a
- 15251 zone 7a
- 15252 zone 7a
- 15253 zone 7a
- 15254 zone 7a
- 15255 zone 7a
- 15257 zone 7a
- 15258 zone 7a
- 15259 zone 7a
- 15260 zone 6b
- 15262 zone 6b
- 15264 zone 7a
- 15265 zone 7a
- 15267 zone 7a
- 15268 zone 7a
- 15270 zone 6b
- 15272 zone 7a
- 15274 zone 7a
- 15276 zone 6b
- 15277 zone 6b
- 15278 zone 7a
- 15279 zone 7a
- 15281 zone 7a
- 15282 zone 6b
- 15283 zone 6b
- 15286 zone 7a
- 15289 zone 6b
- 15290 zone 7a
- 15295 zone 6b
Nearby cities
- Whitehall zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Mount Lebanon zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Baldwin zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Munhall zone 6b, last frost Apr 5
- Wilkinsburg zone 6b, last frost Apr 5
- Bethel Park zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Allison Park zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Upper Saint Clair zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
Questions
What growing zone is Pittsburgh, PA?
Pittsburgh is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average extreme winter low -5°F to 0°F), according to the USDA 2023 map. Some ZIP codes of the city fall in zone 7a.
When is the last frost in Pittsburgh?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Pittsburgh is April 24. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 11.
When can I plant tomatoes in Pittsburgh?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 1 – May 8. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, PA (USC00362574), 10.6 km (6.6 mi) from the city center, elevation 218 m, based on 21 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.