When to plant in York, PA
USDA Zone 7aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for York, Pennsylvania — all computed from York's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in York, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
YORK 3 SSW PUMP STN · 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 York’s own odds, recorded at YORK 3 SSW PUMP STN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 24 | May 8 | Apr 23 | Sep 25 | Oct 8 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | May 13 | Apr 26 | Apr 7 | Oct 5 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 26 | Apr 8 | Mar 24 | Oct 15 | Oct 31 | Nov 13 |
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 York, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 26 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.
York planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in York, PA?
York's average last spring frost falls near April 26 — 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 York, PA?
Expect York's first fall frost near October 19 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is York in?
York 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 York?
There are roughly 176 frost-free days in York (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 26 to the first fall frost near October 19.
When should I plant tomatoes in York?
In York, start tomato seeds indoors around March 1–March 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 3 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in York
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to York’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Shiloh · 5 km
- Weigelstown · 9 km
- Columbia · 22 km
- Elizabethtown · 24 km
- Hanover · 27 km
- Hershey · 36 km
- Harrisburg · 37 km
- Progress · 37 km
Frost dates recorded at YORK 3 SSW PUMP STN, 6 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 York, PA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00369933. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/pennsylvania/york.