When to plant daffodil bulbs in Pennsylvania

Fall planting in Philadelphia

Oct 15–Nov 30

Across Pennsylvania the window opens between September 20 and October 19. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Philadelphia: Oct 15–Nov 30
Last frost, Philadelphia: Mar 30

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Daffodils root best when they go in a few weeks before the ground freezes. Deer and rodents leave them alone.

Daffodil bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PhiladelphiaOct 15–Nov 30

PittsburghSep 30–Nov 11

AllentownSep 26–Nov 7

ReadingOct 1–Nov 12

ErieOct 7–Nov 18

BethlehemSep 26–Nov 7

ScrantonSep 22–Nov 3

LancasterSep 26–Nov 7

LevittownSep 27–Nov 8

HarrisburgSep 25–Nov 6

YorkSep 21–Nov 2

Wilkes-BarreSep 22–Nov 3

AltoonaSep 23–Nov 4

State CollegeSep 28–Nov 9

Penn HillsOct 4–Nov 15

NorristownOct 3–Nov 14

ChesterOct 19–Nov 30

Mount LebanonSep 30–Nov 11

Bethel ParkSep 30–Nov 11

EastonSep 27–Nov 8

HazletonSep 24–Nov 5

Drexel HillOct 13–Nov 24

MonroevilleSep 27–Nov 8

WilliamsportSep 26–Nov 7

LebanonSep 27–Nov 8

PlumOct 4–Nov 15

King of PrussiaOct 3–Nov 14

ChambersburgSep 27–Nov 8

PottstownSep 25–Nov 6

CarlisleSep 20–Nov 1

All 35 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Philadelphia	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 30
Pittsburgh	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 18
Allentown	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 20
Reading	Oct 1 to Nov 12	Apr 14
Erie	Oct 7 to Nov 18	Apr 26
Bethlehem	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 20
Scranton	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Lancaster	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 19
Levittown	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 21
Harrisburg	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 15
York	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 26
Wilkes-Barre	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Altoona	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 25
State College	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 20
Penn Hills	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 16
Norristown	Oct 3 to Nov 14	Apr 8
Chester	Oct 19 to Nov 30	Mar 30
Mount Lebanon	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 18
Bethel Park	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 18
Easton	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 18
Hazleton	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 30
Drexel Hill	Oct 13 to Nov 24	Apr 2
Monroeville	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 22
Williamsport	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 25
Lebanon	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 20
Plum	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 16
King of Prussia	Oct 3 to Nov 14	Apr 8
Chambersburg	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 18
Pottstown	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 20
Carlisle	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 23
Allison Park	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 16
New Castle	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 30
Murrysville	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 22
Baldwin	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 18
Phoenixville	Sep 29 to Nov 10	Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant daffodil bulbs in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, fall planting from October 15 to November 30. Across Pennsylvania the window opens between September 20 and October 19, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.