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When to plant in Hermitage, PA

USDA Zone 6a

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

These dates come from a station roughly 17 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Hermitage (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 6a means Hermitage sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.

Station · MERCER · 17.4 km
Last spring frost
May 15
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 3
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
141 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for HermitageA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Hermitage: last spring frost around May 15, first fall frost around October 3, about 141 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average last spring frost in Hermitage is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

MERCER · 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 Hermitage’s own odds, recorded at MERCER.

Frost-probability curves for HermitageProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around May 15 and the first fall frost around October 3, giving about 141 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°FJun 19May 27May 10Sep 4Sep 23Oct 6
32°FJun 1May 15Apr 30Sep 19Oct 3Oct 19
28°FMay 21May 3Apr 19Sep 29Oct 13Nov 1

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
Broccoli
July 11July 25
Fall sowopen now
Cabbage
July 11July 25
Fall sowopen now
Carrot
July 11July 25
Fall sowopen now
Cauliflower
July 11July 25
Fall sowopen now
Napa Cabbage
July 11August 8
Fall sowin 6 days
Beet
July 25August 8
Fall sowin 6 days
Collards
July 25August 22
Fall sowin 6 days
Endive
July 25August 8
Fall sowin 6 days
Escarole
July 25August 8
Fall sowin 6 days
Fennel (Bulb)
July 25August 8
Fall sowin 6 days
Kale
July 25August 22
Fall sowin 6 days
Kohlrabi
July 25August 22
Fall sowin 6 days
Peas
July 25August 8
Fall sowin 6 days
Radicchio
July 25August 8
Fall sowin 6 days
Swiss Chard
July 25August 8
Fall sowin 6 days
Turnip
July 25August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Arugula
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Bok Choy
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Chervil
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Cilantro
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Claytonia (Miner's Lettuce)
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Corn Salad (Mâche)
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Lettuce
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Mizuna
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Mustard Greens
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Radish
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum)
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Spinach
August 8September 5
Fall sowin 20 days
Tatsoi
August 8September 5

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 Hermitage, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 25 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.

MERCER
Primary
17 km · 372 m elevation
SPRING
May 15
FALL
Oct 3
YOUNGSTOWN RGNL AP
19 km · 360 m elevation
SPRING
May 1
FALL
Oct 17
NEW CASTLE 1 N
25 km · 252 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 23

Hermitage planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Hermitage, PA?

On average, the last spring frost in Hermitage is around May 15 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Hermitage, PA?

Expect Hermitage's first fall frost near October 3 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Hermitage in?

Hermitage is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Hermitage?

There are roughly 141 frost-free days in Hermitage (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around May 15 to the first fall frost near October 3.

When should I plant tomatoes in Hermitage?

In Hermitage, start tomato seeds indoors around March 20–April 3, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 22 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Hermitage

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at MERCER, 17 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 Hermitage, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00365651. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/pennsylvania/hermitage.