When to plant collard greens in Pennsylvania

Collard greens
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.

Plant out, Philadelphia
Mar 2–Mar 16
Fall planting, Philadelphia
Aug 25–Sep 8
Last frost, Philadelphia
Mar 30

Plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Collards handle both heat and frost better than most greens.

Collard greens 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
CityPlant outFall plantingLast frost
PhiladelphiaMar 2 to Mar 16Aug 25 to Sep 8Mar 30
PittsburghMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
AllentownMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
ReadingMar 17 to Mar 31Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 14
ErieMar 29 to Apr 12Aug 12 to Aug 26Apr 26
BethlehemMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
ScrantonMar 26 to Apr 9Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 23
LancasterMar 22 to Apr 5Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 19
LevittownMar 24 to Apr 7Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 21
HarrisburgMar 18 to Apr 1Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 15
YorkMar 29 to Apr 12Jul 27 to Aug 10Apr 26
Wilkes-BarreMar 26 to Apr 9Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 23
AltoonaMar 28 to Apr 11Jul 29 to Aug 12Apr 25
State CollegeMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 20
Penn HillsMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 16
NorristownMar 11 to Mar 25Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 8
ChesterMar 2 to Mar 16Aug 24 to Sep 7Mar 30
Mount LebanonMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
Bethel ParkMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
EastonMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 18
HazletonApr 2 to Apr 16Jul 30 to Aug 13Apr 30
Drexel HillMar 5 to Mar 19Aug 18 to Sep 1Apr 2
MonroevilleMar 25 to Apr 8Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 22
WilliamsportMar 28 to Apr 11Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 25
LebanonMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 20
PlumMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 16
King of PrussiaMar 11 to Mar 25Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 8
ChambersburgMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 18
PottstownMar 23 to Apr 6Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 20
CarlisleMar 26 to Apr 9Jul 26 to Aug 9Apr 23
Allison ParkMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 16
New CastleApr 2 to Apr 16Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 30
MurrysvilleMar 25 to Apr 8Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 22
BaldwinMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
PhoenixvilleMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 4 to Aug 18Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant collard greens 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?

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

Collard greens in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania