Last frost date in Reading, Pennsylvania
April 14
Average last frost in spring. In an early year (1 in 10) it's over by April 1; in a late year (1 in 10) it comes after April 30.
October 29
Average first frost in fall. 1 year in 10 it comes by October 13.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Reading Spaatz Fld (USW00014712), 2.9 miles from Reading, elevation 341 ft. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. These are long-term averages, not a forecast.
| Early year | Average | Late year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last frost in spring | Apr 1 | Apr 14 | Apr 30 |
| First frost in fall | Oct 13 | Oct 29 | Nov 10 |
An early or late year is one in 10: 1 year in 10 the frost comes before the early date, and 1 year in 10 after the late date.
Frost-free days in an average year: 197
Planting calendar for Reading
Fall planting
USDA dates for places whose average first freeze is about October 30 (Reading: October 29).
- Black-eyed peasJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- CucumbersJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Eggplant plantsJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- New Zealand spinachJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- OkraJune 1 – Aug 10 (past for this year)
- Peppers plantsJune 1 – July 20 (past for this year)
- SalsifyJune 1 – July 10 (past for this year)
- SoybeansJune 1 – July 15 (past for this year)
- Summer squashJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Sweet cornJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Sweet potatoesJune 1 – 15 (past for this year)
- Swiss chardJune 1 – Sept 10 (past for this year)
- TomatoesJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Winter squashJune 10 – July 10 (past for this year)
- Celery and celeriac plantsJune 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Broccoli plantsJuly 1 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Brussels sprouts plantsJuly 1 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)July 1 – 15 (past for this year)
- CarrotsJuly 1 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Florence fennelJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Lima beansJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Snap beansJuly 1 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- WatermelonJuly 1 – 15 (past for this year)
- Witloof chicoryJuly 1 – Aug 10 (past for this year)
- Cauliflower plantsJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- EndiveJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- KaleJuly 15 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- RutabagaJuly 15 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- PotatoesJuly 20 – Aug 10 (past for this year)
- BeetsAug 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- Cabbage plantsAug 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- Chinese cabbageAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Collards plantsAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Garden peasAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Head lettuce plantsAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- KohlrabiAug 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- ParsleyAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- SorrelAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- TurnipsAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- DandelionAug 15 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- Leaf lettuceAug 15 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- Mustard greensAug 15 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- RadishesAug 15 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- SpinachSept 1 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- Corn saladSept 15 – Nov 1Now
- Upland cressSept 15 – Nov 1Now
- Rhubarb plantsNov 1 – Dec 1Soon
- Asparagus plantsNov 15 – Jan 1Soon
USDA lists chervil and chives, garlic, horseradish, leeks, parsnips, shallots as generally spring-planted here.
Spring planting
USDA dates for places whose average last freeze is about April 10 (Reading: April 14).
- Corn saladFeb 1 – Apr 1
- SpinachFeb 15 – Apr 1
- Garden peasFeb 20 – Mar 20
- GarlicFeb 20 – Mar 20
- Cabbage plantsMar 1 – Apr 1
- Cauliflower plantsMar 1 – 20
- Chervil and chivesMar 1 – Apr 1
- Collards plantsMar 1 – June 1
- DandelionMar 1 – Apr 1
- LeeksMar 1 – Apr 1
- Onion plants plantsMar 1 – Apr 1
- Onion seedMar 1 – Apr 1
- Onion setsMar 1 – Apr 1
- RadishesMar 1 – May 1
- Rhubarb plantsMar 1 – Apr 1
- ShallotsMar 1 – Apr 1
- SorrelMar 1 – Apr 15
- TurnipsMar 1 – Apr 1
- Asparagus plantsMar 10 – Apr 10
- BeetsMar 10 – June 1
- CarrotsMar 10 – Apr 20
- Head lettuce plantsMar 10 – Apr 1
- Horseradish plantsMar 10 – Apr 10
- KaleMar 10 – Apr 1
- KohlrabiMar 10 – Apr 10
- Mustard greensMar 10 – Apr 20
- ParsleyMar 10 – Apr 10
- ParsnipsMar 10 – Apr 10
- PotatoesMar 10 – Apr 1
- SalsifyMar 10 – Apr 15
- Upland cressMar 10 – Apr 15
- Broccoli plantsMar 15 – Apr 15
- Brussels sprouts plantsMar 15 – Apr 15
- EndiveMar 15 – Apr 15
- Florence fennelMar 15 – Apr 15
- Leaf lettuceMar 15 – May 15
- Swiss chardMar 15 – June 15
- Celery and celeriac plantsApr 1 – 20
- Lima beansApr 1 – June 30
- Snap beansApr 10 – June 30
- Sweet cornApr 10 – June 1
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)Apr 20 – June 1
- CucumbersApr 20 – June 1
- New Zealand spinachApr 20 – June 1
- OkraApr 20 – June 15
- Summer squashApr 20 – June 1
- TomatoesApr 20 – June 1
- WatermelonApr 20 – June 1
- Black-eyed peasMay 1 – July 1
- Eggplant plantsMay 1 – June 1
- Peppers plantsMay 1 – June 1
- SoybeansMay 1 – June 30
- Sweet potatoesMay 1 – June 1
- Witloof chicoryJune 10 – July 1
USDA lists chinese cabbage as generally fall-planted here.
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5 (earliest safe spring and latest safe fall dates), applied to this place's NOAA frost dates. “Plants” means setting out transplants, not sowing seed. How we match the table.
Nearby in Pennsylvania
- Wyomissing 2 mi · last frost Apr 14
- Pottstown 16 mi · last frost Apr 20
- Ephrata 17 mi · last frost Apr 18
- Coatesville 25 mi · last frost Apr 19
- Phoenixville 26 mi · last frost Apr 18