Berwick, PA planting zone & frost dates
Berwick is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost usually comes around May 4 and the first fall frost around October 11, for a growing season of about 159 days.
Planting calendar for Berwick
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (May 4) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Mar 9 – Mar 23 Transplant outdoors: May 11 – May 18 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 23 – Mar 9 Transplant outdoors: May 18 – May 25 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 23 – Mar 9 Transplant outdoors: May 18 – May 25 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 23 – Mar 9 Transplant outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 23 – Mar 9 Transplant outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 11 – May 18 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 11 – May 18 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 11 – May 18 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 11 – May 18 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 23 – Apr 6 Transplant outdoors: May 11 – May 18 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 16 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 11).
Useful for zone 6b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 21 | May 4 | May 19 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Oct 27 | Oct 11 | Sep 29 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 19, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before September 29. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 22.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Berwick
- 18603 zone 6b
Nearby cities
- Bloomsburg zone 6b, last frost Apr 27
- Nanticoke zone 6b, last frost May 7
- Hazleton zone 6b, last frost Apr 30
- Back Mountain zone 6a, last frost Apr 23
- Pottsville zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Mountain Top zone 6b, last frost May 7
- Kingston zone 6b, last frost Apr 23
- Wilkes-Barre zone 7a, last frost Apr 23
Questions
What growing zone is Berwick, PA?
Berwick is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average extreme winter low -5°F to 0°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Berwick?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Berwick is May 4. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 19.
When can I plant tomatoes in Berwick?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 11 – May 18. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Benton 3 Ne, PA (USC00360582), 21.8 km (13.5 mi) from the city center, elevation 334 m, based on 12 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.