When to plant tomatoes 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). Tomato needs 60–85 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 tomatoes in Pennsylvania: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out May 1 – May 18, with seeds started indoors Mar 6 – Mar 20. Wait until the soil is at least 50°F and frost is over.
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 tomatoes in Pennsylvania, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 6 – Mar 20). Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 80°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (May 1 – May 18). Space plants about 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- 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: tomato hornworm, aphids, whitefly, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: early blight, late blight, septoria leaf spot, fusarium wilt, blossom-end rot (calcium disorder).
- Harvest (from about Jul 7 – Aug 1). Tomato takes 60-85 days to reach harvest. Days to maturity counted from transplant. Bury 2/3 of the stem at transplanting for extra roots. Determinate types suit containers and one big harvest; indeterminate types need staking and produce until frost.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Pennsylvania’s average frost dates. More in the full tomato growing guide.
Tomato 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 tomato dates shift with them.
When to plant tomatoes in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania (this page) | May 1 | May 1 – May 18 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Apr 20 – May 7 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Apr 14 – May 1 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Apr 14 – May 1 |
| District of Columbia | April 10 | Apr 10 – Apr 27 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Apr 15 – May 2 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | May 5 – May 22 |
Questions gardeners in Pennsylvania ask
When is the best time to plant tomatoes in Pennsylvania?
Plant tomato transplants outdoors in Pennsylvania between May 1 and May 18. 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 tomato seeds indoors in Pennsylvania?
Start seeds indoors between March 6 and March 20, about 7 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from May 1.
What is the latest I can plant tomatoes in Pennsylvania?
About August 11. Tomatoes need at least 60 days to mature after transplanting, and frost around October 10 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will tomatoes planted in Pennsylvania be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, tomatoes are usually ready from about July 7 to August 1, 60-85 days after transplanting.
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.