Cranberry Township, PA planting zone & frost dates
Cranberry Township is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 8 and the first fall frost around November 8, for a growing season of about 212 days.
Planting calendar for Cranberry Township
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 8) 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: Feb 11 – Feb 25 Transplant outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 22 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 Transplant outdoors: Apr 22 – Apr 29 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 Transplant outdoors: Apr 22 – Apr 29 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 Transplant outdoors: Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 Transplant outdoors: Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 22 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 22 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 22 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 22 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 25 – Mar 11 Transplant outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 22 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 13 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 8).
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 | Mar 25 | Apr 8 | Apr 26 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 24 | Nov 8 | Oct 27 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 26, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 27. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 29.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Cranberry Township
- 16066 zone 6b
Nearby cities
- Fernway zone 6b, last frost Apr 27
- Franklin Park zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Allison Park zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Carnot-Moon zone 6b, last frost Apr 28
- Pittsburgh zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Butler zone 6b, last frost May 7
- Wilkinsburg zone 6b, last frost Apr 5
- Mount Lebanon zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
Questions
What growing zone is Cranberry Township, PA?
Cranberry Township 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 Cranberry Township?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Cranberry Township is April 8. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 26.
When can I plant tomatoes in Cranberry Township?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 15 – Apr 22. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Glenwillard Dashields L&D, PA (USC00363343), 17.3 km (10.7 mi) from the city center, elevation 216 m, based on 7 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.