When to plant leeks in Pennsylvania

Plant out in Philadelphia

Mar 16–Mar 30

Across Pennsylvania the window opens between March 16 and April 16. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Philadelphia: Jan 5–Jan 19
Plant out, Philadelphia: Mar 16–Mar 30
Last frost, Philadelphia: Mar 30

Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out up to 2 weeks before the last frost. Plant leeks deep in a trench and fill it in as they grow to get long white stems.

Leeks planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PhiladelphiaMar 16–Mar 30

PittsburghApr 4–Apr 18

AllentownApr 6–Apr 20

ReadingMar 31–Apr 14

ErieApr 12–Apr 26

BethlehemApr 6–Apr 20

ScrantonApr 9–Apr 23

LancasterApr 5–Apr 19

LevittownApr 7–Apr 21

HarrisburgApr 1–Apr 15

YorkApr 12–Apr 26

Wilkes-BarreApr 9–Apr 23

AltoonaApr 11–Apr 25

State CollegeApr 6–Apr 20

Penn HillsApr 2–Apr 16

NorristownMar 25–Apr 8

ChesterMar 16–Mar 30

Mount LebanonApr 4–Apr 18

Bethel ParkApr 4–Apr 18

EastonApr 4–Apr 18

HazletonApr 16–Apr 30

Drexel HillMar 19–Apr 2

MonroevilleApr 8–Apr 22

WilliamsportApr 11–Apr 25

LebanonApr 6–Apr 20

PlumApr 2–Apr 16

King of PrussiaMar 25–Apr 8

ChambersburgApr 4–Apr 18

PottstownApr 6–Apr 20

CarlisleApr 9–Apr 23

All 35 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Philadelphia	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Mar 16 to Mar 30	Mar 30
Pittsburgh	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Apr 18
Allentown	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Apr 20
Reading	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Apr 14
Erie	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Apr 26
Bethlehem	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Apr 20
Scranton	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Apr 23
Lancaster	Jan 25 to Feb 8	Apr 5 to Apr 19	Apr 19
Levittown	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Apr 21
Harrisburg	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Apr 15
York	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Apr 26
Wilkes-Barre	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Apr 23
Altoona	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 25
State College	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Apr 20
Penn Hills	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Apr 16
Norristown	Jan 14 to Jan 28	Mar 25 to Apr 8	Apr 8
Chester	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Mar 16 to Mar 30	Mar 30
Mount Lebanon	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Apr 18
Bethel Park	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Apr 18
Easton	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Apr 18
Hazleton	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Apr 30
Drexel Hill	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Mar 19 to Apr 2	Apr 2
Monroeville	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Apr 8 to Apr 22	Apr 22
Williamsport	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 25
Lebanon	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Apr 20
Plum	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Apr 16
King of Prussia	Jan 14 to Jan 28	Mar 25 to Apr 8	Apr 8
Chambersburg	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Apr 18
Pottstown	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Apr 20
Carlisle	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Apr 23
Allison Park	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Apr 16
New Castle	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Apr 30
Murrysville	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Apr 8 to Apr 22	Apr 22
Baldwin	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Apr 18
Phoenixville	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant leeks in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, plant out from March 16 to March 30. Across Pennsylvania the window opens between March 16 and April 16, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out up to 2 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Pennsylvania

Leeks in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania