Frost Dates for Montrose, PA 18801
Last spring frost May 14 · First fall frost September 29 · 138 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b
ZIP 18801 has about 8,100 people.
Moderate season: 138 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 26–May 31 (35 days). Fall frost risk spans September 15–October 14 (29 days).
Frost probability for 18801
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 31 | May 14 | April 26 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 15 | September 29 | October 14 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at MONTROSE (7.5 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 138-day season in Montrose
In Montrose (138 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 9 | May 28–Jun 4 | 96 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 96 available after May 28. | May 30 |
| Pepper | Apr 2 | May 28–Jun 4 | 96 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 96 available after May 28. | Jun 4 |
| Lettuce | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 23 | 173 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 8 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 23–Apr 30 | 180 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 180 available after Apr 23. | Jul 28 |
| Cucumber | Apr 23 | May 28–Jun 4 | 110 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 110 available after May 28. | Jul 3 |
| Beans | — | May 21–Jun 4 | 124 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 124 available after May 21. | Jul 10 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19–May 28 | 201 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 201 available after Mar 19. | Jul 19 |
| Zucchini | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 110 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 110 available after May 28. | Jul 8 |
| Onion | Feb 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 173 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 173 available after Apr 16. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 19–May 7 | 215 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 27 |
| Kale | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 187 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Broccoli | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 173 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 173 available after Apr 16. | Jul 4 |
| Cabbage | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 187 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 187 available after Apr 16. | Jul 28 |
| Radish | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 201 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 28 |
| Beets | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 201 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Jul 29; both mature before Oct 6. | Jul 29 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 30–May 7 | 159 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 159 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 29 | 243 | overwinter: Plant Sep 29 to Oct 20; harvest the following summer. | Oct 20 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 9–Jun 4 | 194 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 9; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 16 | May 21–May 28 | 110 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 110 available after May 21. | Jun 11 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 30 | May 28–May 28 | 103 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 103 available after May 28. | — |
| Cauliflower | Apr 2 | May 7–May 21 | 152 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 152 available after May 7. | Jul 9 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 19 | Apr 30–Apr 30 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 29; both mature before Oct 6. | Jul 29 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 215 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 27 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 187 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 187 available after Apr 16. | Jun 28 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 103 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 103 available after May 28. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 26 | May 28–Jun 4 | 96 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 96 available after May 28. | Jun 9 |
| Okra | Apr 16 | May 21–May 28 | 117 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 117 available after May 21. | Jul 8 |
| Basil | Apr 9 | Jun 4–Jun 4 | 103 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 103 available after Jun 4. | Jul 3 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 16–May 7 | 173 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 3; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 3 |
| Parsley | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 138 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 138 available after May 21. | Jul 14 |
| Celery | Mar 5 | May 21–Jun 4 | 138 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 138 available after May 21. | May 25 |
| Scallions | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 187 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 7 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 187 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 17 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 201 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 16 | May 7–May 14 | 152 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 8 |
| Collards | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 187 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 7 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 96 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 96 available after May 28. | — |
| Chives | Feb 19 | May 21–May 28 | 152 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 152 available after May 21. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 201 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Jul 29; both mature before Oct 6. | Jul 29 |
| Oregano | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 152 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 152 available after May 21. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 19 | May 21–May 28 | 138 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 138 available after May 21. | — |
| Sage | Mar 19 | May 21–May 28 | 152 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 152 available after May 21. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 152 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 152 available after May 21. | — |
| Calendula | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Aug 3; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 3 |
| Cosmos | Apr 16 | May 14–May 28 | 124 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 124 available after May 14. | Jul 3 |
| Lavender | Feb 19 | May 14–May 28 | 159 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 159 available after May 14. | — |
| Marigolds | Apr 2 | May 14–May 21 | 124 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 13; both mature before Sep 15. | Jul 13 |
| Melons | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 96 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 96 available after May 28. | — |
| Mint | — | May 14–May 28 | 159 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 159 available after May 14. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 124 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 8; both mature before Sep 15. | Jul 8 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 21–Jun 4 | 117 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 117 available after May 21. | Jun 28 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 103 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 103 available after May 28. | — |
| Sunflowers | — | May 14–May 28 | 124 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 124 available after May 14. | Jun 23 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 19 | May 21–May 28 | 103 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 103 available after May 21. | Jun 4 |
| Watermelon | Apr 30 | May 21–May 28 | 103 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 103 available after May 21. | May 30 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 110 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 110 available after May 28. | Jul 8 |
| Zinnias | Apr 16 | May 14–May 28 | 124 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 124 available after May 14. | Jul 3 |
Month by month in Montrose
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 19), Lavender (Feb 19), Onion (Feb 19), Rosemary (Feb 19). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 5), Collards (Mar 5), Kale (Mar 5), Oregano (Mar 5), Parsley (Mar 5), Scallions (Mar 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 19), Beets (Mar 19), Dill (Mar 19), Peas (Mar 19), Radish (Mar 19), Spinach (Mar 19). |
| April | Start indoors: Calendula (Apr 2), Cauliflower (Apr 2), Marigolds (Apr 2), Pepper (Apr 2), Basil (Apr 9), Tomato (Apr 9), +15 more. Direct sow from: Kohlrabi (Apr 2), Cilantro (Apr 16), Turnip (Apr 16), Carrots (Apr 23), Potatoes (Apr 30). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 16), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 16), Cabbage (Apr 16), Collards (Apr 16), Kale (Apr 16), Lettuce (Apr 16), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 9). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 14), Beans (May 21), Pole Beans (May 21). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 7), Cauliflower (May 7), Cosmos (May 14), Lavender (May 14), Marigolds (May 14), Mint (May 14), +24 more. Last frost around May 14. Last sowing dates: Celery (May 25), Tomato (May 30), Watermelon (May 30). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 4). Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 4), Tomatillos (Jun 4), Eggplant (Jun 9), Corn (Jun 11), Sunflowers (Jun 23), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 28), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 3), Cosmos (Jul 3), Cucumber (Jul 3), Zinnias (Jul 3), Broccoli (Jul 4), Nasturtiums (Jul 8), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 3), Cilantro (Aug 3), Collards (Aug 7), Scallions (Aug 7), Bok Choy (Aug 8), Lettuce (Aug 8), +6 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 29). First frost around September 29. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 20). |
| November | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Montrose, PA (ZIP 18801)?
The median last spring frost date for Montrose, PA (ZIP code 18801) is around May 14. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 26; one in ten it runs past May 31.
What is the first fall frost date in Montrose, PA?
The median first fall frost date for Montrose, PA is around September 29. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 15 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Montrose, PA?
The frost-free growing season in Montrose is about 138 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Montrose (138 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Montrose, PA?
Montrose, PA is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Montrose, PA?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 9 and plant out May 28 in Montrose. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Montrose?
Two: plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 6.
When do I plant garlic in Montrose?
Sep 29 to Oct 20; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Vestal (ZIP 13850) has 155 frost-free days, 17 more than Montrose (ZIP 18801). See Vestal ZIP 13850 frost dates
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