When to plant strawberries in Pennsylvania

Strawberries
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
Last frost, Philadelphia
Mar 30

Set out crowns 2–4 weeks before the last frost. June-bearing plants fruit the year after planting. Pinch off first-year flowers.

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

Questions

When should I plant strawberries 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?

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

More for Pennsylvania

Strawberries in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania