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When to plant in Chambersburg, PA

USDA Zone 7a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Chambersburg, Pennsylvania — all computed from Chambersburg's nearest NOAA weather station.

Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Chambersburg, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.

Station · CHAMBERSBURG 1 ESE · 1.5 km
Last spring frost
April 18
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 25
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
190 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for ChambersburgA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Chambersburg: last spring frost around April 18, first fall frost around October 25, about 190 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average first fall frost in Chambersburg is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

CHAMBERSBURG 1 ESE · 1991–2020

The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Chambersburg’s own odds, recorded at CHAMBERSBURG 1 ESE.

Frost-probability curves for ChambersburgProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 18 and the first fall frost around October 25, giving about 190 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 17Apr 30Apr 16Oct 1Oct 14Oct 28
32°FMay 5Apr 18Apr 3Oct 10Oct 25Nov 8
28°FApr 21Apr 4Mar 21Oct 23Nov 6Nov 21

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Brussels Sprouts
July 5July 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 19August 2
Fall sowin 14 days
Broccoli
August 2August 16
Fall sowin 14 days
Cabbage
August 2August 16
Fall sowin 14 days
Carrot
August 2August 16
Fall sowin 14 days
Cauliflower
August 2August 16
Fall sowin 14 days
Napa Cabbage
August 2August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Beet
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Collards
August 16September 13
Fall sowin 28 days
Endive
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Escarole
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Kale
August 16September 13
Fall sowin 28 days
Kohlrabi
August 16September 13
Fall sowin 28 days
Peas
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Radicchio
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Swiss Chard
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Turnip
August 16September 13

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Chambersburg, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 18 km · complete 32°F normals

When stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.

CHAMBERSBURG 1 ESE
Primary
1 km · 195 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 18
FALL
Oct 25
S MTN
16 km · 463 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 27
FALL
Oct 20
SHIPPENSBURG
18 km · 207 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 19
FALL
Oct 24

Chambersburg planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Chambersburg, PA?

Plan for the last spring frost in Chambersburg around April 18 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.

When is the first fall frost in Chambersburg, PA?

In Chambersburg, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 25 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.

What hardiness zone is Chambersburg in?

Chambersburg is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Chambersburg?

There are roughly 190 frost-free days in Chambersburg (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 18 to the first fall frost near October 25.

When should I plant tomatoes in Chambersburg?

In Chambersburg, start tomato seeds indoors around February 21–March 7, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 25 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Chambersburg

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Chambersburg’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at CHAMBERSBURG 1 ESE, 1 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Chambersburg, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00361354. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/pennsylvania/chambersburg.
When to Plant in Chambersburg, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a — BlissGarden