When to plant turnips in Pennsylvania

Turnips
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
Fall planting, Philadelphia
Sep 8–Sep 22
Last frost, Philadelphia
Mar 30

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Fall turnips are sweeter. Pull them at 2–3 inches across.

Turnips 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
CitySow outdoorsFall plantingLast frost
PhiladelphiaMar 2 to Mar 16Sep 8 to Sep 22Mar 30
PittsburghMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 19 to Sep 2Apr 18
AllentownMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 20
ReadingMar 17 to Mar 31Aug 20 to Sep 3Apr 14
ErieMar 29 to Apr 12Aug 26 to Sep 9Apr 26
BethlehemMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 20
ScrantonMar 26 to Apr 9Aug 11 to Aug 25Apr 23
LancasterMar 22 to Apr 5Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 19
LevittownMar 24 to Apr 7Aug 16 to Aug 30Apr 21
HarrisburgMar 18 to Apr 1Aug 14 to Aug 28Apr 15
YorkMar 29 to Apr 12Aug 10 to Aug 24Apr 26
Wilkes-BarreMar 26 to Apr 9Aug 11 to Aug 25Apr 23
AltoonaMar 28 to Apr 11Aug 12 to Aug 26Apr 25
State CollegeMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 17 to Aug 31Apr 20
Penn HillsMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 23 to Sep 6Apr 16
NorristownMar 11 to Mar 25Aug 22 to Sep 5Apr 8
ChesterMar 2 to Mar 16Sep 7 to Sep 21Mar 30
Mount LebanonMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 19 to Sep 2Apr 18
Bethel ParkMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 19 to Sep 2Apr 18
EastonMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 16 to Aug 30Apr 18
HazletonApr 2 to Apr 16Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 30
Drexel HillMar 5 to Mar 19Sep 1 to Sep 15Apr 2
MonroevilleMar 25 to Apr 8Aug 16 to Aug 30Apr 22
WilliamsportMar 28 to Apr 11Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 25
LebanonMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 16 to Aug 30Apr 20
PlumMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 23 to Sep 6Apr 16
King of PrussiaMar 11 to Mar 25Aug 22 to Sep 5Apr 8
ChambersburgMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 16 to Aug 30Apr 18
PottstownMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 14 to Aug 28Apr 20
CarlisleMar 26 to Apr 9Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 23
Allison ParkMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 23 to Sep 6Apr 16
New CastleApr 2 to Apr 16Aug 14 to Aug 28Apr 30
MurrysvilleMar 25 to Apr 8Aug 16 to Aug 30Apr 22
BaldwinMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 19 to Sep 2Apr 18
PhoenixvilleMar 21 to Apr 4Aug 18 to Sep 1Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant turnips 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; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Pennsylvania

Turnips in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania