When to plant in Reading, PA
USDA Zone 7aReading, Pennsylvania frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Reading, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average first fall frost in Reading is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
READING SPAATZ FLD · 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 Reading’s own odds, recorded at READING SPAATZ FLD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 13 | Apr 28 | Apr 14 | Oct 4 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Apr 1 | Oct 13 | Oct 29 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F | Apr 15 | Apr 1 | Mar 17 | Oct 25 | Nov 8 | Nov 24 |
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 Reading, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 10 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.
Reading planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Reading, PA?
Reading's average last spring frost falls near April 14 — 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 Reading, PA?
In Reading, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 29 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Reading in?
Reading 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 Reading?
There are roughly 198 frost-free days in Reading (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 14 to the first fall frost near October 29.
When should I plant tomatoes in Reading?
In Reading, start tomato seeds indoors around February 17–March 3, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 21 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Reading
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Reading’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Wyomissing · 3 km
- Pottstown · 26 km
- Ephrata · 28 km
- Coatesville · 40 km
- Phoenixville · 41 km
- Lebanon · 42 km
- Emmaus · 42 km
- Pottsville · 45 km
Frost dates recorded at READING SPAATZ FLD, 5 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 Reading, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014712. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/pennsylvania/reading.