When to plant broccoli in Pennsylvania

Broccoli
Plant out in Philadelphia
Mar 2–Mar 16

Across Pennsylvania the window opens between March 2 and April 2. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Philadelphia
Jan 19–Feb 2
Plant out, Philadelphia
Mar 2–Mar 16
Fall planting, Philadelphia
Aug 25–Sep 8
Last frost, Philadelphia
Mar 30

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Broccoli grown for a fall harvest often tastes sweeter than spring broccoli. Light frost improves it.

Broccoli planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PhiladelphiaMar 2–Mar 16
PittsburghMar 21–Apr 4
AllentownMar 23–Apr 6
ReadingMar 17–Mar 31
ErieMar 29–Apr 12
BethlehemMar 23–Apr 6
ScrantonMar 26–Apr 9
LancasterMar 22–Apr 5
LevittownMar 24–Apr 7
HarrisburgMar 18–Apr 1
YorkMar 29–Apr 12
Wilkes-BarreMar 26–Apr 9
AltoonaMar 28–Apr 11
State CollegeMar 23–Apr 6
Penn HillsMar 19–Apr 2
NorristownMar 11–Mar 25
ChesterMar 2–Mar 16
Mount LebanonMar 21–Apr 4
Bethel ParkMar 21–Apr 4
EastonMar 21–Apr 4
HazletonApr 2–Apr 16
Drexel HillMar 5–Mar 19
MonroevilleMar 25–Apr 8
WilliamsportMar 28–Apr 11
LebanonMar 23–Apr 6
PlumMar 19–Apr 2
King of PrussiaMar 11–Mar 25
ChambersburgMar 21–Apr 4
PottstownMar 23–Apr 6
CarlisleMar 26–Apr 9
All 35 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outFall plantingLast frost
PhiladelphiaJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 2 to Mar 16Aug 25 to Sep 8Mar 30
PittsburghFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
AllentownFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
ReadingFeb 3 to Feb 17Mar 17 to Mar 31Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 14
ErieFeb 15 to Mar 1Mar 29 to Apr 12Aug 12 to Aug 26Apr 26
BethlehemFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
ScrantonFeb 12 to Feb 26Mar 26 to Apr 9Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 23
LancasterFeb 8 to Feb 22Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 19
LevittownFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 24 to Apr 7Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 21
HarrisburgFeb 4 to Feb 18Mar 18 to Apr 1Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 15
YorkFeb 15 to Mar 1Mar 29 to Apr 12Jul 27 to Aug 10Apr 26
Wilkes-BarreFeb 12 to Feb 26Mar 26 to Apr 9Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 23
AltoonaFeb 14 to Feb 28Mar 28 to Apr 11Jul 29 to Aug 12Apr 25
State CollegeFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 20
Penn HillsFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 16
NorristownJan 28 to Feb 11Mar 11 to Mar 25Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 8
ChesterJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 2 to Mar 16Aug 24 to Sep 7Mar 30
Mount LebanonFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
Bethel ParkFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
EastonFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 18
HazletonFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 2 to Apr 16Jul 30 to Aug 13Apr 30
Drexel HillJan 22 to Feb 5Mar 5 to Mar 19Aug 18 to Sep 1Apr 2
MonroevilleFeb 11 to Feb 25Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 22
WilliamsportFeb 14 to Feb 28Mar 28 to Apr 11Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 25
LebanonFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 20
PlumFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 16
King of PrussiaJan 28 to Feb 11Mar 11 to Mar 25Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 8
ChambersburgFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 18
PottstownFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 23 to Apr 6Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 20
CarlisleFeb 12 to Feb 26Mar 26 to Apr 9Jul 26 to Aug 9Apr 23
Allison ParkFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 16
New CastleFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 2 to Apr 16Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 30
MurrysvilleFeb 11 to Feb 25Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 22
BaldwinFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
PhoenixvilleFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 4 to Aug 18Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant broccoli in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, plant out from March 2 to March 16. Across Pennsylvania the window opens between March 2 and April 2, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Pennsylvania

Broccoli in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania