When to plant potatoes in Pennsylvania

Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Philadelphia: Mar 2–Mar 16
Last frost, Philadelphia: Mar 30

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed potatoes once the soil reaches about 45°F. Shoots that come up before the last frost can be covered with soil.

Potatoes 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

City	Sow outdoors	Last frost
Philadelphia	Mar 2 to Mar 16	Mar 30
Pittsburgh	Mar 21 to Apr 4	Apr 18
Allentown	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Apr 20
Reading	Mar 17 to Mar 31	Apr 14
Erie	Mar 29 to Apr 12	Apr 26
Bethlehem	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Apr 20
Scranton	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Apr 23
Lancaster	Mar 22 to Apr 5	Apr 19
Levittown	Mar 24 to Apr 7	Apr 21
Harrisburg	Mar 18 to Apr 1	Apr 15
York	Mar 29 to Apr 12	Apr 26
Wilkes-Barre	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Apr 23
Altoona	Mar 28 to Apr 11	Apr 25
State College	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Apr 20
Penn Hills	Mar 19 to Apr 2	Apr 16
Norristown	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 8
Chester	Mar 2 to Mar 16	Mar 30
Mount Lebanon	Mar 21 to Apr 4	Apr 18
Bethel Park	Mar 21 to Apr 4	Apr 18
Easton	Mar 21 to Apr 4	Apr 18
Hazleton	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Apr 30
Drexel Hill	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 2
Monroeville	Mar 25 to Apr 8	Apr 22
Williamsport	Mar 28 to Apr 11	Apr 25
Lebanon	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Apr 20
Plum	Mar 19 to Apr 2	Apr 16
King of Prussia	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 8
Chambersburg	Mar 21 to Apr 4	Apr 18
Pottstown	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Apr 20
Carlisle	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Apr 23
Allison Park	Mar 19 to Apr 2	Apr 16
New Castle	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Apr 30
Murrysville	Mar 25 to Apr 8	Apr 22
Baldwin	Mar 21 to Apr 4	Apr 18
Phoenixville	Mar 21 to Apr 4	Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant potatoes in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, sow outdoors 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?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.