When to plant in Ephrata, PA
USDA Zone 7aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Ephrata, Pennsylvania — all computed from Ephrata's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 7a, Ephrata supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
LANCASTER AP · 1991–2020The 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 Ephrata’s own odds, recorded at LANCASTER AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 16 | May 1 | Apr 18 | Oct 2 | Oct 14 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | May 5 | Apr 18 | Apr 4 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Apr 18 | Apr 4 | Mar 21 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Ephrata, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 17 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen 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.
Ephrata planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Ephrata, PA?
Ephrata's average last spring frost falls near April 18 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Ephrata, PA?
In Ephrata, 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 Ephrata in?
Ephrata 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 Ephrata?
Ephrata has about 190 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 18) and first fall frost (October 25).
When should I plant tomatoes in Ephrata?
For Ephrata, sow tomatoes indoors about February 21–March 7 and move the seedlings out around April 25, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Ephrata
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Ephrata’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lancaster · 19 km
- Wyomissing · 25 km
- Lebanon · 27 km
- Reading · 28 km
- Columbia · 31 km
- Elizabethtown · 36 km
- Coatesville · 38 km
- Hershey · 41 km
Frost dates recorded at LANCASTER AP, 12 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Ephrata, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00054737. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/pennsylvania/ephrata.