Quantcast
Planting Calendar for Washington, Washington County, PA | Almanac.com
For daily wit & wisdom, sign up for the Almanac Daily newsletter.

Planting Calendar for Washington, PA

Enter your zip code or postal code above.

The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

Use the icon below for the best print or email format.

Print Friendly and PDF

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 3 (at WASHINGTON 3 NE, PA climate station, elevation 1299 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 7-22
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12-23
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Sep 19
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 24-May 3
May 3
BasilFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost May 17-31
Moon May 17-23
Frost May 17-31
Moon May 17-23
Sep 5
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 24-May 3
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-7
May 17
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
N/AJul 25
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Jun 14
BroccoliFrost Mar 7-22
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Aug 15
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Jul 11
CabbageFrost Mar 7-22
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Jul 4
CantaloupesFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12-23
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 7-17
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-17
Jul 11
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-7
Aug 8
CauliflowerFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon May 7-10
N/AAug 8
CeleryFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-23
Frost May 3
Aug 8
ChivesFrost Mar 7-22
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Aug 22
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 3-17
Moon May 7-17
May 24
CollardsFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Aug 8
CucumbersFrost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-23
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Aug 8
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 17
Moon May 7-17
Aug 22
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Jul 11
EggplantsFrost Mar 7-22
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
N/AAug 8
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
May 17
FennelFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-17
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 7-17
Aug 1
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 10-31
Moon May 10-23
Aug 8
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Jul 18
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 7-22
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
May 17
KohlrabiFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
May 17
LeeksFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12-23
N/AJul 4
LettuceFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
May 17
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 8-19
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Frost May 17-31
Moon May 17-23
Aug 8
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-7
N/AJul 11
OreganoFrost Feb 22-Mar 22
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-23
N/AAug 8
ParsleyFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-23
Frost Apr 5-May 10
Moon Apr 8-23
Aug 1
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-7
Jul 11
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
May 17
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-7
Aug 8
PumpkinsFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12-23
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Jul 4
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-7
Aug 22
RosemaryFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
N/AAug 22
SageFrost Mar 7-22
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-23
N/AAug 1
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-7
Jul 11
SpinachFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
May 17
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 17-31
Moon May 17-23
Aug 1
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 17-31
Moon May 24-31
Jul 4
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Apr 12-May 3
Moon Apr 12-23
May 17
ThymeFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-17
N/AJul 25
TomatillosFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost May 17-31
Moon May 17-23
N/AAug 1
TomatoesFrost Mar 7-22
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
N/AJul 18
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-7
Sep 19
WatermelonsFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12-23
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-17
Jul 18
Winter SquashFrost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-23
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Jun 27
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 12-19
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-23
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 17-23
Aug 15

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 17 (at WASHINGTON 3 NE, PA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 29-Oct 3
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 25-Aug 22
Moon Jul 25-Aug 3, Aug 20-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 8-29
Moon Aug 8-19
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 18-25
Moon Jul 18-21
Frost Aug 8-22
Moon Aug 8-19
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 27-Jul 11
Moon Jul 5-11
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 18-25
Moon Jul 18-21
Frost Aug 8-15
Moon Aug 8-15
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 1-8
Moon Aug 1-3
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 11-18
Moon Jul 11-18
Frost Jul 25-Aug 1
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 25-Aug 22
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 18-Aug 1
Moon Jul 18-21
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 31-Nov 13
Moon Oct 31
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 1-15
Moon Aug 4-15
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 8-22
Moon Aug 8-19
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 15-Sep 5
Moon Aug 15-19, Sep 2-5
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 8-22
Moon Aug 8-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 15-Sep 5
Moon Aug 15-19, Sep 2-5
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 8-22
Moon Aug 8-19
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 5-19
Moon Sep 18-19
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 29-Sep 19
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 8-22
Moon Aug 8-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 15-29
Moon Aug 20-29
N/A50Frost-tolerant
The Old Farmer's Store