When to plant in Lancaster, PA
USDA Zone 7aLancaster, 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, Lancaster supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
LANCASTER 2NE FLTR PLT · 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 Lancaster’s own odds, recorded at LANCASTER 2NE FLTR PLT.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 20 | May 2 | Apr 19 | Oct 2 | Oct 13 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | May 7 | Apr 19 | Apr 5 | Oct 9 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Apr 24 | Apr 5 | Mar 22 | Oct 20 | Nov 4 | 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 Lancaster, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 14 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.
Lancaster planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lancaster, PA?
Lancaster's average last spring frost falls near April 19 — 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 Lancaster, PA?
In Lancaster, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 24 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Lancaster in?
Lancaster 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 Lancaster?
Lancaster has about 188 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 19) and first fall frost (October 24).
When should I plant tomatoes in Lancaster?
For Lancaster, sow tomatoes indoors about February 22–March 8 and move the seedlings out around April 26, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Lancaster
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lancaster’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Columbia · 17 km
- Ephrata · 19 km
- Elizabethtown · 28 km
- Lebanon · 35 km
- York · 38 km
- Hershey · 39 km
- Coatesville · 42 km
- Shiloh · 43 km
Frost dates recorded at LANCASTER 2NE FLTR PLT, 2 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 Lancaster, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00364763. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/pennsylvania/lancaster.