When to plant in Scranton, PA
USDA Zone 6bScranton, Pennsylvania frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 6b means Scranton sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Scranton is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
WILKES-BARRE 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 Scranton’s own odds, recorded at WILKES-BARRE INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 22 | May 4 | Apr 21 | Sep 25 | Oct 7 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | May 10 | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Oct 4 | Oct 20 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Apr 26 | Apr 10 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 | Nov 3 | Nov 19 |
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 Scranton, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 38 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.
Scranton planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Scranton, PA?
Scranton's average last spring frost falls near April 23 — 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 Scranton, PA?
Expect Scranton's first fall frost near October 20 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Scranton in?
Scranton is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Scranton?
There are roughly 180 frost-free days in Scranton (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 23 to the first fall frost near October 20.
When should I plant tomatoes in Scranton?
In Scranton, start tomato seeds indoors around February 26–March 12, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 30 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Scranton
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Scranton’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Dunmore · 5 km
- Kingston · 24 km
- Wilkes-Barre · 25 km
- Nanticoke · 36 km
- Mountain Top · 36 km
- Hazleton · 57 km
- Berwick · 62 km
- Bloomsburg · 80 km
Frost dates recorded at WILKES-BARRE INTL AP, 9 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 Scranton, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014777. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/pennsylvania/scranton.