When to plant in State College, PA
USDA Zone 6bState College, 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 6b, State College gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
STATE COLLEGE · 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 State College’s own odds, recorded at STATE COLLEGE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 18 | May 1 | Apr 18 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | May 6 | Apr 20 | Apr 7 | Oct 10 | Oct 26 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Apr 8 | Mar 26 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 | 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 State College, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 32 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.
State College planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in State College, PA?
Plan for the last spring frost in State College around April 20 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in State College, PA?
Expect State College's first fall frost near October 26 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is State College in?
State College 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 State College?
State College has about 189 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 20) and first fall frost (October 26).
When should I plant tomatoes in State College?
For State College, sow tomatoes indoors about February 23–March 9 and move the seedlings out around April 27, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in State College
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to State College’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Altoona · 56 km
- Williamsport · 85 km
- Carlisle · 86 km
- St. Marys · 92 km
- Chambersburg · 97 km
- Harrisburg · 100 km
- Progress · 102 km
- Johnstown · 104 km
Frost dates recorded at STATE COLLEGE, 1 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 State College, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00368449. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/pennsylvania/state-college.