Frost Dates for Washington, PA 15301
Last spring frost May 1 · First fall frost October 17 · 169 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6b
ZIP 15301 has about 50,300 people.
Moderate season: 169 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 18–May 18 (30 days). Fall frost risk spans October 2–October 31 (29 days).
Frost probability for 15301
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 18 | May 1 | April 18 |
| Fall (first frost) | October 2 | October 17 | October 31 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at WELLSBURG WTR TRMT PL (32.9 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 169-day season in Washington
In Washington (169 frost-free days, a moderate season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 27 | May 15–May 22 | 127 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 127 available after May 15. | Jun 17 |
| Pepper | Mar 20 | May 15–May 22 | 127 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 127 available after May 15. | Jun 22 |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 10 | 204 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 26 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 10–Apr 17 | 211 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 211 available after Apr 10. | Aug 15 |
| Cucumber | Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | 141 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 21 |
| Beans | — | May 8–May 22 | 155 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 10. | Jul 28 |
| Peas | — | Mar 6–May 15 | 232 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 232 available after Mar 6. | Aug 6 |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 141 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 26 |
| Onion | Feb 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 204 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 204 available after Apr 3. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 6–Apr 24 | 246 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Sep 14; both mature before Nov 7. | Sep 14 |
| Kale | Feb 20 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 218 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Nov 7. | Aug 30 |
| Broccoli | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 204 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 204 available after Apr 3. | Jul 22 |
| Cabbage | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 218 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 218 available after Apr 3. | Aug 15 |
| Radish | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 232 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Sep 15; both mature before Oct 24. | Sep 15 |
| Beets | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 232 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 17–Apr 24 | 190 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 190 available after Apr 17. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 17 | 274 | overwinter: Plant Oct 17 to Nov 7; harvest the following summer. | Nov 7 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 27–May 22 | 225 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 27; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 3 | May 8–May 15 | 141 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 141 available after May 8. | Jun 29 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 17 | May 15–May 15 | 134 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 134 available after May 15. | Jun 4 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 20 | Apr 24–May 8 | 183 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 183 available after Apr 24. | Jul 27 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 6 | Apr 17–Apr 17 | 190 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 246 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Sep 14; both mature before Nov 7. | Sep 14 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 218 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 218 available after Apr 3. | Jul 16 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 134 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 134 available after May 15. | Jun 4 |
| Eggplant | Mar 13 | May 15–May 22 | 127 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 127 available after May 15. | Jun 27 |
| Okra | Apr 3 | May 8–May 15 | 148 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 26 |
| Basil | Mar 27 | May 22–May 22 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 22 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 21 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 3–Apr 24 | 204 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 21 |
| Parsley | Feb 20 | May 8–May 15 | 169 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 169 available after May 8. | Aug 1 |
| Celery | Feb 20 | May 8–May 22 | 169 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 169 available after May 8. | Jun 12 |
| Scallions | Feb 20 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 218 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Nov 7. | Aug 25 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 218 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Nov 7. | Sep 4 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 20–Apr 3 | 232 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 20 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Nov 7. | Aug 30 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 3 | Apr 24–May 1 | 183 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 24 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 26 |
| Collards | Feb 20 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 218 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Nov 7. | Aug 25 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 127 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 127 available after May 15. | Jun 12 |
| Chives | Feb 6 | May 8–May 15 | 183 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 183 available after May 8. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 232 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Oregano | Feb 20 | May 8–May 15 | 183 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 183 available after May 8. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 6 | May 8–May 15 | 169 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 169 available after May 8. | — |
| Sage | Mar 6 | May 8–May 15 | 183 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 183 available after May 8. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 20 | May 8–May 15 | 183 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 183 available after May 8. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 20 | Apr 17–May 1 | 190 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 21 |
| Cosmos | Apr 3 | May 1–May 15 | 155 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 21 |
| Lavender | Feb 6 | May 1–May 15 | 190 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 190 available after May 1. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 20 | May 1–May 8 | 155 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 31 |
| Melons | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 127 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 127 available after May 15. | Jun 12 |
| Mint | — | May 1–May 15 | 190 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 190 available after May 1. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 3 | May 1–May 8 | 155 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 26 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 8–May 22 | 148 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 148 available after May 8. | Jul 16 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 134 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 134 available after May 15. | Jun 14 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 1–May 15 | 155 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 155 available after May 1. | Jul 11 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 6 | May 8–May 15 | 134 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 134 available after May 8. | Jun 22 |
| Watermelon | Apr 17 | May 8–May 15 | 134 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 134 available after May 8. | Jun 17 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 141 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 26 |
| Zinnias | Apr 3 | May 1–May 15 | 155 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 21 |
Month by month in Washington
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 6), Lavender (Feb 6), Onion (Feb 6), Rosemary (Feb 6), Celery (Feb 20), Collards (Feb 20), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 6), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 6), Cabbage (Mar 6), Lettuce (Mar 6), Sage (Mar 6), Swiss Chard (Mar 6), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 6), Beets (Mar 6), Dill (Mar 6), Peas (Mar 6), Radish (Mar 6), Spinach (Mar 6), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 27). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 3), Corn (Apr 3), Cosmos (Apr 3), Nasturtiums (Apr 3), Okra (Apr 3), Zinnias (Apr 3), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 3), Turnip (Apr 3), Carrots (Apr 10), Potatoes (Apr 17). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 3), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 3), Cabbage (Apr 3), Collards (Apr 3), Kale (Apr 3), Lettuce (Apr 3), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 1), Beans (May 8), Pole Beans (May 8). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 1), Lavender (May 1), Marigolds (May 1), Mint (May 1), Nasturtiums (May 1), Zinnias (May 1), +23 more. Last frost around May 1. |
| June | Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (Jun 4), Pumpkin (Jun 4), Cantaloupe (Jun 12), Celery (Jun 12), Melons (Jun 12), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 14), +6 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 11), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 16), Pole Beans (Jul 16), Basil (Jul 21), Cosmos (Jul 21), Cucumber (Jul 21), +9 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Parsley (Aug 1), Peas (Aug 6), Cabbage (Aug 15), Carrots (Aug 15), Beets (Aug 16), Dill (Aug 16), +9 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Turnip (Sep 4), Arugula (Sep 14), Spinach (Sep 14), Radish (Sep 15). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 17). First frost around October 17. |
| November | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 7). |
| 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 Washington, PA (ZIP 15301)?
The median last spring frost date for Washington, PA (ZIP code 15301) is around May 1. 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 18; one in ten it runs past May 18.
What is the first fall frost date in Washington, PA?
The median first fall frost date for Washington, PA is around October 17. 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 October 2 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Washington, PA?
The frost-free growing season in Washington is about 169 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 Washington (169 frost-free days, a moderate season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Washington, PA?
Washington, PA is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (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 Washington, PA?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 27 and plant out May 15 in Washington. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Washington?
Two: plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 24.
When do I plant garlic in Washington?
Oct 17 to Nov 7; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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