Calendars by city / PA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania vegetable planting calendar
Planting windows for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania built from the NOAA 1991–2020 freeze normals at PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, PA US (station USW00013739), not from a hardiness zone.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania planting dates for 27 vegetables
The same windows as a table
Each row applies a published extension rule to the frost dates above. Hardy crops go out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; semi-hardy crops 0–2 weeks before; tender crops around the frost date; very tender crops 2 or more weeks after. The last fall planting date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost. The rules and their sources are on the methodology page.
| Crop | Frost class | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Last fall planting | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beets | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Sep 18 | 60 |
| Broccoli | Hardy | Jan 15 – Feb 12 | Transplant: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Sep 20 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Cabbage | Hardy | Jan 15 – Feb 12 | Transplant: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Aug 31 | 85 (from transplant) |
| Carrots | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Sep 8 | 70 |
| Cauliflower | Semi-hardy | Jan 29 – Feb 26 | Transplant: Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Sep 13 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Oct 5 | 50 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Sep 25 | 60 |
| Onions (green) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Sep 25 | 60 |
| Onions (dry, from seed) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Aug 6 | 110 |
| Onions (dry, from sets) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant sets: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Aug 6 | 110 |
| Parsnips | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Sep 8 | 70 |
| Peas | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Sep 20 | 65 |
| Potatoes | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant seed potatoes: Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Jul 15 | 125 |
| Radishes | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Oct 25 | 30 |
| Spinach | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Oct 15 | 40 |
| Swiss chard | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Sep 18 | 60 |
| Turnips | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Oct 5 | 50 |
| Snap beans | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 2 – Apr 9 | Sep 11 | 60 |
| Cantaloupe | Very tender | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Aug 17 | 85 |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 2 – Apr 9 | Aug 12 | 60–90 |
| Cucumbers | Tender | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 2 – Apr 9 | Sep 16 | 55 |
| Eggplant | Very tender | Feb 12 – Mar 19 | Transplant: Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Sep 11 | 60 (from transplant) |
| Peppers | Very tender | Feb 19 – Mar 19 | Transplant: Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Sep 1 | 70 (from transplant) |
| Tomatoes | Very tender | Feb 26 – Mar 26 | Transplant: Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Sep 6 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Summer squash | Tender | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 2 – Apr 9 | Sep 21 | 50 |
| Winter squash | Very tender | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Aug 2 | 100 |
| Watermelon | Very tender | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Aug 17 | 85 |
What the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania frost-free season means for your choices
At 222 frost-free days, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania gardeners should compare that number to the days-to-harvest column before buying seed. A crop whose days to harvest plus its transplant age is close to the season length needs either an early start indoors or a short-season variety.
- Hardy crops (peas, spinach, radishes, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage) can go in from about Mar 5 – Mar 19 and again for fall.
- Very tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, winter squash) should wait until Apr 16 – Apr 30; start tomato seeds indoors Feb 26 – Mar 26.
- Fall sowing is worthwhile only for the rows that show a separate fall date; for the others the spring window already covers the season.
Philadelphia, PA planting questions
When is the last frost in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
The 50% probability date for the last spring 32°F reading at PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, PA US is Apr 2, from the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. In half the years on that record the last frost came later than that date, so tender crops are safer a week or two after it. The last 28°F hard freeze averages Mar 23.
When can I plant tomatoes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Tomatoes are a very tender crop, so the Colorado State Extension rule puts them out 2 or more weeks after the last spring frost: Apr 16 – Apr 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Start the seeds indoors Feb 26 – Mar 26, which is 5 to 7 weeks before that transplant window.
How long is the growing season in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania averages 222 frost-free days, between the 50% last spring frost on Apr 2 and the 50% first fall frost on Nov 10 at PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, PA US. Check a variety's days to harvest against that number before buying seed.
When should I start seeds indoors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
The earliest indoor sowing on this calendar is broccoli and cabbage at Jan 15 – Feb 12. Hardy crops are transplanted out Mar 5 – Mar 19 here, and each crop's indoor window is simply its outdoor window minus the transplant age published by Colorado State Extension, so nothing starts earlier than that.
What can I plant in fall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
The crops with a separate fall sowing here, latest first, are radishes, spinach, kohlrabi, turnips, lettuce (leaf) and onions (green), plus 21 more on the chart above. Each fall date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost on Nov 10, plus an allowance for frost-tolerant crops that is our own assumption, not the source's.
Station data and limitations
| NOAA station | PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, PA US (USW00013739) |
|---|---|
| Location | 39.8683, -75.2311 · elevation 3 m |
| Last spring 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Apr 2 / Mar 23 |
| First fall 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Nov 10 / Nov 22 |
| Dataset | NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal product, data types ANN-TMIN-PRBLST/PRBFST-T32FP50 and T28FP50 |
| Retrieved | 2026-10-16 |
The normals describe the airport station, not your yard. They are averages of a 30-year record and say nothing about this year's weather. Watch the local forecast around the dates shown, and use soil temperature for warm-season crops, which the Colorado State guide treats as the better signal.
Nearby calendars
- New York City (Central Park), New York — last spring frost Apr 1
- Washington, D.C. (Reagan National) — last spring frost Mar 28
- Hartford, Connecticut — last spring frost Apr 24
- Richmond, Virginia — last spring frost Apr 4
Read the method behind these dates: last frost date vs hardiness zone.