When to plant tulip bulbs in Pennsylvania

Fall planting in Philadelphia

Nov 3–Dec 8

Across Pennsylvania the window opens between October 4 and November 3. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Philadelphia: Nov 3–Dec 8
Last frost, Philadelphia: Mar 30

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant once the soil has cooled below 60°F. Bulbs need 12–14 weeks of cold to flower in spring.

Tulip bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PhiladelphiaNov 3–Dec 8

PittsburghOct 14–Nov 18

AllentownOct 10–Nov 14

ReadingOct 15–Nov 19

ErieOct 21–Nov 25

BethlehemOct 10–Nov 14

ScrantonOct 6–Nov 10

LancasterOct 10–Nov 14

LevittownOct 11–Nov 15

HarrisburgOct 9–Nov 13

YorkOct 5–Nov 9

Wilkes-BarreOct 6–Nov 10

AltoonaOct 7–Nov 11

State CollegeOct 12–Nov 16

Penn HillsOct 18–Nov 22

NorristownOct 17–Nov 21

ChesterNov 2–Dec 7

Mount LebanonOct 14–Nov 18

Bethel ParkOct 14–Nov 18

EastonOct 11–Nov 15

HazletonOct 8–Nov 12

Drexel HillOct 27–Dec 1

MonroevilleOct 11–Nov 15

WilliamsportOct 10–Nov 14

LebanonOct 11–Nov 15

PlumOct 18–Nov 22

King of PrussiaOct 17–Nov 21

ChambersburgOct 11–Nov 15

PottstownOct 9–Nov 13

CarlisleOct 4–Nov 8

All 35 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, fall planting from November 3 to December 8. Across Pennsylvania the window opens between October 4 and November 3, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.