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Frost dates and planting calendar for York, 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 26[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 19[3]
Growing season, median
177 days[4]

York, Pennsylvania sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map[1]. The median last spring frost at the nearby NOAA station is April 26[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 7, half of years Apr 26, 1 in 10 years after May 13Last frostmedian Apr 26First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 1, half of years Oct 19, 1 in 10 years before Oct 5First frostmedian Oct 19Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 26around Apr 26Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 10from May 10
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.

These frost dates are odds from NOAA records for 1991 to 2020, not a forecast[5]. At the NOAA station for York, in half of years the last spring frost comes after April 26[2]. In 9 of 10 years it comes after April 7, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 13[2]. For the fall, the median first frost is October 19[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 5[3].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 7 after April 26 after May 13
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 5 before October 19 before November 1
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 8, median first fall date October 31[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 155 days in 9 of 10 years, 177 days in half of years and 200 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: York 3SSW Pump Station (USC00369933), 3.5 miles from the city center, 390 feet, 21 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so treat these dates as a starting point[6]. GardenFacts takes the median last frost, April 26, as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before it, which is March 29 to April 12[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before it, which is April 12[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be seeded around April 26[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after it, so the earliest start is May 10[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 26) is March 29 to April 12[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 26) is April 12, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 26[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 26), is May 10[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 29 Jun 2 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 29 Jun 22 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 29 May 18
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 29 May 28
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 29 Jul 17
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 29 Jun 2
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 29 Apr 28
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 29 May 8
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 29 May 18
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 12 Jun 11
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 12 Jun 21
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 12 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 12 Jun 21
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 12 Aug 15
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 12 Jun 11
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 26 Jun 25
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 26 Jun 25
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 26 Jun 20
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 26 Jun 15
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 10 Aug 3
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 10 Jul 9 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 10 Jul 19 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 10 Jul 14 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 10 Aug 18
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 10 Aug 3
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 winter averages 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is about winter lows, not summer heat or frost dates[14]. By land area, all of York 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: 1.6°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
17403[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
17404[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
17401[15] 7a 0 to 5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is York, Pennsylvania?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of York in zone 7a[1]. All of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated 7a[15].
When is the last frost in York, Pennsylvania?
In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 26, and in 9 of 10 years it comes after April 7[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 13[2].
When to plant tomatoes in York, Pennsylvania?
CSU Extension says very tender vegetables like tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. For York that earliest start is May 10[11].
When is the first frost in York, Pennsylvania?
In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 19[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 5[3].
How long is the growing season in York, Pennsylvania?
The season between the last and first frost is at least 177 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 155 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of York, 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 1.6°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 7, in half of years after April 26, and in 1 of 10 years after May 13 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 26. 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 5, in half of years before October 19, and in 9 of 10 years before November 1 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 19. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 155 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 177 days in half of years, and at least 200 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the York 3SSW Pump Station weather station (USC00369933), 3.5 miles from the center of York at 390 feet, using 21 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 8 and the median first fall date is October 31. 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 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
  11. 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
  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. York, 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.