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Frost dates and planting calendar for Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
7a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 19[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 24[3]
Growing season, median
186 days[4]

Lancaster, Pennsylvania is in USDA hardiness zone 7a[1]. The median last spring frost is April 19, based on NOAA records from 1991 to 2020[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 5, half of years Apr 19, 1 in 10 years after May 7Last frostmedian Apr 19First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 6, half of years Oct 24, 1 in 10 years before Oct 9First frostmedian Oct 24Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 22 to Apr 5Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 19around Apr 19Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 3from May 3
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

NOAA frost dates for Lancaster come from the Lancaster 2NE Fltr Plt weather station[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 19[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 7[2]. In the fall, the first frost comes before October 24 in half of years[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 9[3]. These are odds from past records and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[2].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 5 after April 19 after May 7
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 9 before October 24 before November 6
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 5, median first fall date November 4[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 163 days in 9 of 10 years, 186 days in half of years and 205 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Lancaster 2NE Fltr Plt (USC00364763), 1.5 miles from the city center, 270 feet, 28 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its planting guide for Colorado, so these dates are a starting point for Lancaster[6]. CSU says hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the average last spring frost[6]. Using the NOAA median, that is March 22 to April 5[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots, beets and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before it[9]. Using the median, that is April 5[9]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant typically wait 2 or more weeks after it, and the earliest start is May 3[10].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 19) is March 22 to April 5[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 19) is April 5, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 19[11]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 19), is May 3[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 26 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 22 Jun 15 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 11
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 21
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 22 Jul 10
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 26
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 22 Apr 21
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 1
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 11
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 5 Jun 4
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 5 Jun 14
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 5 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 5 Jun 14
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 5 Aug 8
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 5 Jun 4
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 19 Jun 18
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 19 Jun 18
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 19 Jun 13
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 19 Jun 8
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 3 Jul 27
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 3 Jul 2 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 3 Jul 12 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 3 Jul 7 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 3 Aug 11
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 3 Jul 27
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 7a means the coldest night of the year averages 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on winter lows, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. All of Lancaster's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a[15].

Zone 7a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 0°F to 5°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 3.7°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 7a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 7a and what zone 7a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
17602[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
17603[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
17601[15] 7a 0 to 5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Lancaster, Pennsylvania?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Lancaster in zone 7a[1]. All of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated 7a[15].
When is the last frost in Lancaster?
The median last spring frost is April 19[2]. In 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 5, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 7[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Lancaster?
CSU lists tomatoes as very tender and says to start typically 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[10]. Using the NOAA median, the earliest start is May 3[10].
When is the first frost in Lancaster?
The median first fall frost is October 24[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 9[3].
How long is the growing season in Lancaster?
The growing season is at least 186 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 163 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Lancaster, Pennsylvania in zone 7a. Zone 7a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 3.7°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 5, in half of years after April 19, and in 1 of 10 years after May 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 19. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 9, in half of years before October 24, and in 9 of 10 years before November 6 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 24. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 163 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 186 days in half of years, and at least 205 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Lancaster 2NE Fltr Plt weather station (USC00364763), 1.5 miles from the center of Lancaster at 270 feet, using 28 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 5 and the median first fall date is November 4. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Lancaster, Pennsylvania overlaps 3 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.