When to plant eggplant in Pennsylvania

Plant out in Philadelphia

Apr 13–Apr 27

Across Pennsylvania the window opens between April 13 and May 14. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Philadelphia: Jan 19–Feb 2
Plant out, Philadelphia: Apr 13–Apr 27
Last sowing for a harvest: Aug 10
Last frost, Philadelphia: Mar 30

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Eggplant sulks in cool weather. Black plastic mulch warms the soil.

Eggplant planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PhiladelphiaApr 13–Apr 27

PittsburghMay 2–May 16

AllentownMay 4–May 18

ReadingApr 28–May 12

ErieMay 10–May 24

BethlehemMay 4–May 18

ScrantonMay 7–May 21

LancasterMay 3–May 17

LevittownMay 5–May 19

HarrisburgApr 29–May 13

YorkMay 10–May 24

Wilkes-BarreMay 7–May 21

AltoonaMay 9–May 23

State CollegeMay 4–May 18

Penn HillsApr 30–May 14

NorristownApr 22–May 6

ChesterApr 13–Apr 27

Mount LebanonMay 2–May 16

Bethel ParkMay 2–May 16

EastonMay 2–May 16

HazletonMay 14–May 28

Drexel HillApr 16–Apr 30

MonroevilleMay 6–May 20

WilliamsportMay 9–May 23

LebanonMay 4–May 18

PlumApr 30–May 14

King of PrussiaApr 22–May 6

ChambersburgMay 2–May 16

PottstownMay 4–May 18

CarlisleMay 7–May 21

All 35 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Philadelphia	Jan 19 to Feb 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Mar 30
Pittsburgh	Feb 7 to Feb 21	May 2 to May 16	Apr 18
Allentown	Feb 9 to Feb 23	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Reading	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Erie	Feb 15 to Mar 1	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Bethlehem	Feb 9 to Feb 23	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Scranton	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Lancaster	Feb 8 to Feb 22	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Levittown	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
Harrisburg	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
York	Feb 15 to Mar 1	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Wilkes-Barre	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Altoona	Feb 14 to Feb 28	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
State College	Feb 9 to Feb 23	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Penn Hills	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Norristown	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 8
Chester	Jan 19 to Feb 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Mar 30
Mount Lebanon	Feb 7 to Feb 21	May 2 to May 16	Apr 18
Bethel Park	Feb 7 to Feb 21	May 2 to May 16	Apr 18
Easton	Feb 7 to Feb 21	May 2 to May 16	Apr 18
Hazleton	Feb 19 to Mar 5	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Drexel Hill	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Apr 2
Monroeville	Feb 11 to Feb 25	May 6 to May 20	Apr 22
Williamsport	Feb 14 to Feb 28	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Lebanon	Feb 9 to Feb 23	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Plum	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
King of Prussia	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 8
Chambersburg	Feb 7 to Feb 21	May 2 to May 16	Apr 18
Pottstown	Feb 9 to Feb 23	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Carlisle	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Allison Park	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
New Castle	Feb 19 to Mar 5	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Murrysville	Feb 11 to Feb 25	May 6 to May 20	Apr 22
Baldwin	Feb 7 to Feb 21	May 2 to May 16	Apr 18
Phoenixville	Feb 7 to Feb 21	May 2 to May 16	Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant eggplant in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, plant out from April 13 to April 27. Across Pennsylvania the window opens between April 13 and May 14, 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 after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Pennsylvania

Eggplant in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania