When to plant in Hershey, PA
USDA Zone 7aHershey, Pennsylvania frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 7a, Hershey supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
MIDDLETOWN HARRISBURG INTL 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 Hershey’s own odds, recorded at MIDDLETOWN HARRISBURG INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 7 | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Oct 9 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
| 32°F | Apr 25 | Apr 9 | Mar 28 | Oct 18 | Nov 2 | Nov 15 |
| 28°F | Apr 9 | Mar 30 | Mar 14 | Oct 31 | Nov 14 | Nov 29 |
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 Hershey, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 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.
Hershey planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Hershey, PA?
Hershey's average last spring frost falls near April 9 — 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 Hershey, PA?
In Hershey, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 2 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Hershey in?
Hershey 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 Hershey?
Hershey has about 207 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 9) and first fall frost (November 2).
When should I plant tomatoes in Hershey?
For Hershey, sow tomatoes indoors about February 12–February 26 and move the seedlings out around April 16, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Hershey
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hershey’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Colonial Park · 14 km
- Elizabethtown · 15 km
- Progress · 17 km
- Lebanon · 20 km
- Harrisburg · 20 km
- Columbia · 30 km
- York · 36 km
- Shiloh · 36 km
Frost dates recorded at MIDDLETOWN HARRISBURG INTL AP, 14 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 Hershey, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014711. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/pennsylvania/hershey.