Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Lock Haven, PA

The average first fall frost in Lock Haven, PA is October 20, and the average last spring frost is April 30, giving a growing season of about 173 days.

Plan your garden around Lock Haven, PA's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

April 30

Safe May 15 Typical Apr 30 Risky Apr 16

First Fall Frost

October 20

Safe Oct 5 Typical Oct 20 Risky Nov 1

Growing Season

173 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 6a

A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.

Data: NOAA station LOCK HAVEN SEWAGE PLT, PA US, 1.3 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Lock Haven Compares

Lock Haven's typical last spring frost (Apr 30) comes later than in 81% of the 121 Pennsylvania cities we track.
Its 173-day growing season is 13 days shorter than the Pennsylvania median of 186 days.
Compared with Williamsport (39 km away), Lock Haven's last spring frost comes 5 days later than Williamsport's, and its first fall frost arrives 4 days earlier.
July is the warmest month (average high 85°F) and January the coldest (average low 18°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Mar 5 – Mar 19	—	May 7 – May 14	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Feb 19 – Mar 5	—	May 7 – May 21	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Feb 19 – Mar 5	—	May 14 – May 21	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Apr 2 – Apr 9	May 7 – May 14	May 7 – May 14	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Apr 9 – Apr 16	May 7 – May 21	May 7 – May 14	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Apr 2 – Apr 9	May 7 – May 21	May 7 – May 14	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	May 7 – May 21	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Apr 2 – Apr 9	—	May 14 – May 21	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Apr 2 – Apr 9	—	May 14 – May 21	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Apr 30 – May 14	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Apr 30 – May 14	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Mar 19 – Apr 2	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	Aug 25 – Sep 8	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Mar 19 – Apr 2	—	Aug 25 – Sep 8	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	Aug 11 – Aug 25	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	Sep 8 – Sep 15	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Mar 12 – Mar 26	—	Apr 9 – Apr 16	Aug 18 – Aug 25	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Mar 12 – Mar 26	—	Apr 16 – Apr 23	Aug 11 – Aug 18	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Mar 12 – Mar 26	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	Aug 11 – Aug 25	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Mar 12 – Mar 26	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	Jul 28 – Aug 11	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	Aug 11 – Aug 25	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Mar 26 – Apr 9	—	Sep 8 – Sep 22	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	Aug 11 – Aug 25	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Feb 19 – Mar 5	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Sep 22 – Oct 6	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	May 14 – May 28	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Mar 19 – Mar 26	—	May 7 – May 14	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	Aug 25 – Sep 8	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Mar 5 – Mar 19	—	Apr 16 – Apr 23	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Mar 5 – Mar 19	—	Apr 30 – May 7	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Mar 5 – Mar 19	—	Apr 30 – May 7	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	May 7 – May 21	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Apr 2 – Apr 9	May 7 – May 21	May 7 – May 14	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Mar 19 – Apr 2	—	May 7 – May 14	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Apr 2 – Apr 9	May 7 – May 21	May 7 – May 14	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	May 7 – May 21	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	May 7 – May 21	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Lock Haven, PA?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the LOCK HAVEN SEWAGE PLT, PA US station, the last spring frost in Lock Haven typically falls around April 30. A cautious gardener might wait until May 15 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while April 16 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Lock Haven, PA in fall?

The first fall frost in Lock Haven typically arrives around October 20. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 5; in milder years it can hold off until November 1.

How long is the growing season in Lock Haven, PA?

Lock Haven's average frost-free growing season is about 173 days, running from the typical last spring frost (April 30) to the typical first fall frost (October 20).

What USDA hardiness zone is Lock Haven, PA in?

Lock Haven, PA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.