When to plant tomatoes in Pennsylvania

Plant out in Philadelphia

Apr 6–Apr 20

Across Pennsylvania the window opens between April 6 and May 7. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Philadelphia: Feb 2–Feb 16
Plant out, Philadelphia: Apr 6–Apr 20
Last sowing for a harvest: Aug 10
Last frost, Philadelphia: Mar 30

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PhiladelphiaApr 6–Apr 20

PittsburghApr 25–May 9

AllentownApr 27–May 11

ReadingApr 21–May 5

ErieMay 3–May 17

BethlehemApr 27–May 11

ScrantonApr 30–May 14

LancasterApr 26–May 10

LevittownApr 28–May 12

HarrisburgApr 22–May 6

YorkMay 3–May 17

Wilkes-BarreApr 30–May 14

AltoonaMay 2–May 16

State CollegeApr 27–May 11

Penn HillsApr 23–May 7

NorristownApr 15–Apr 29

ChesterApr 6–Apr 20

Mount LebanonApr 25–May 9

Bethel ParkApr 25–May 9

EastonApr 25–May 9

HazletonMay 7–May 21

Drexel HillApr 9–Apr 23

MonroevilleApr 29–May 13

WilliamsportMay 2–May 16

LebanonApr 27–May 11

PlumApr 23–May 7

King of PrussiaApr 15–Apr 29

ChambersburgApr 25–May 9

PottstownApr 27–May 11

CarlisleApr 30–May 14

All 35 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, plant out from April 6 to April 20. Across Pennsylvania the window opens between April 6 and May 7, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Pennsylvania

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania