When to plant swiss chard in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s average last spring frost is May 1, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 10 — about 162 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b). Swiss Chard needs 50–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Pennsylvania's growing season.
Pennsylvania covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant swiss chard in Pennsylvania: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 10 – Apr 27, with seeds started indoors Mar 27 – Apr 10. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow swiss chard in Pennsylvania, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 27 – Apr 10). Sow seeds 0.75 inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-14 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 70°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 12 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Apr 10 – Apr 27). Space plants about 9 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Pennsylvania.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: leaf miner, aphids, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: cercospora leaf spot, downy mildew.
- Harvest (from about Jun 6 – Jun 16). Swiss Chard takes 50-60 days to reach harvest. One of the most heat-tolerant leafy greens - a single spring sowing usually carries through summer into fall if kept picked.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Pennsylvania’s average frost dates. More in the full swiss chard growing guide.
Swiss Chard planting dates by USDA zone in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania spans USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the swiss chard dates shift with them.
When to plant swiss chard in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania (this page) | May 1 | Apr 10 – Apr 27 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Mar 30 – Apr 16 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Mar 24 – Apr 10 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Mar 24 – Apr 10 |
| District of Columbia | April 10 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | Apr 14 – May 1 |
Questions gardeners in Pennsylvania ask
When is the best time to plant swiss chard in Pennsylvania?
Plant swiss chard transplants outdoors in Pennsylvania between April 10 and April 27. That timing is set by Pennsylvania's average last spring frost of May 1; Pennsylvania spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start swiss chard seeds indoors in Pennsylvania?
Start seeds indoors between March 27 and April 10, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 10.
Can I plant swiss chard in the fall in Pennsylvania?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 22 and August 8, so the crop matures in cool weather before Pennsylvania's first frost around October 10.
When will swiss chard planted in Pennsylvania be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, swiss chard is usually ready from about June 6 to June 16, 50-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Pennsylvania?
On average around May 1, with the first fall frost around October 10 - about 162 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.