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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Philadelphia

This month's sowing list for Philadelphia, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

5 vegetables to sow or plant now

1 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 10, and frost is unlikely after about April 22.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, arugula, spinach and chives.

Sow or plant in Philadelphia in October

Start seeds indoors

Nothing this month.

Direct sow

  • Arugula
  • Radish
  • Spinach

Transplant

  • Garlic
  • Chives

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: arugula, chives, radish and spinach.

Ready to pick in October

  • Arugula
  • Basil
  • Beets
  • Bell pepper
  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli
  • Bush beans
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Cucumber
  • Dill
  • Hot pepper
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Parsley
  • Pole beans
  • Radish
  • Runner beans
  • Rutabaga
  • Scallions
  • Strawberry
  • Sweet corn
  • Swiss chard
  • Tomato
  • Turnip
  • Winter squash
  • Zucchini

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Philadelphia

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: March to June.

Transplant: May to July.

Best time to start: May to June.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 16 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: March to May.

Best time to start: March to April.

Pick: June to August and November.

First pick about 11 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: September to November.

Best time to start: September to November.

Pick: May to July.

First pick about 31 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Direct sow: March to May and September.

Best time to start: March to May and September.

Pick: May to June and October to January.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: March to May and August to September.

Best time to start: March to May and August.

Pick: June to January.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: May to August.

Best time to start: May to August.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Start seeds indoors: January to March.

Transplant: March to May.

Best time to start: March to May.

Pick: July to August.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: March to May.

Best time to start: March to May.

Pick: July to November.

First pick about 14 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to June.

Direct sow: May to July.

Transplant: May to July.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 13 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to August.

Direct sow: May to August.

Transplant: May to August.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Philadelphia

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSabout 5 weeks
BasilTSSSSabout 7 weeks
BeetsSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
Bell pepperTTPPPabout 16 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BroccoliTPPTPPabout 13 weeks
Brussels sproutsTPabout 17 weeks
Bush beansSSSSabout 7 weeks
CabbageTPPPTPPabout 14 weeks
CantaloupeSSSabout 9 weeks
CarrotSSSSSabout 8 weeks
CauliflowerTPPabout 15 weeks
CeleriacTPabout 21 weeks
CeleryTTPabout 21 weeks
ChivesPTTSSSTSSabout 8 weeks
CilantroSSabout 6 weeks
CucumberTSSSSabout 6 weeks
DillSSSSabout 5 weeks
EggplantTTPPPabout 17 weeks
Fava beansSSabout 13 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 31 weeks
Hot pepperTTPPPabout 18 weeks
KaleSSSTSSabout 7 weeks
LeekTTPPabout 20 weeks
LettuceSSSSabout 7 weeks
OkraSSabout 6 weeks
OnionTTPPPabout 20 weeks
ParsleyTTSSPTSSabout 8 weeks
PeasSSabout 10 weeks
Pole beansSSSSabout 8 weeks
PotatoPPPabout 11 weeks
RadishSSSSSSSabout 3 weeks
Runner beansSabout 9 weeks
RutabagaSSSabout 11 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
SpinachSSSSabout 7 weeks
StrawberryPPPabout 14 weeks
Sweet cornTSSSPabout 9 weeks
Sweet potatoPPabout 11 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
TomatoTTPPPabout 16 weeks
TurnipSSSabout 7 weeks
WatermelonPSSabout 10 weeks
Winter squashTSSSabout 13 weeks
ZucchiniTSSSSabout 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: Brussels sprouts and celeriac.

Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: fava beans and rutabaga.

Philadelphia season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, bush beans, cantaloupe, carrot, celeriac, celery, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, fava beans, hot pepper, kale, lettuce, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, strawberry, sweet corn, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celeriac, celery, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, potato, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, dill, kale, okra, radish, runner beans and rutabaga.

Last chance for: basil, beets, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, radish, runner beans, rutabaga, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, cilantro, garlic, lettuce, spinach and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Winter December to February

Time to start: broccoli, cabbage, celeriac, celery, chives, leek, onion and parsley.

Last chance for: celeriac and celery.

Frost in Philadelphia

Last frost, most years
around April 10
Frost is unlikely after
about April 22
First frost, most years
around November 8
Frost-free days in a year
about 212

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Harder to grow in Philadelphia

Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: parsnip.

Questions about planting in Philadelphia

What can I plant now in Philadelphia?

In October, 5 vegetables can be sown or planted in Philadelphia, including arugula, chives, garlic, radish and spinach. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Philadelphia?

In Philadelphia, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from May to July. The best time to start is from May to June. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Philadelphia?

In Philadelphia, plant potatoes from March to May. The best time to start is from March to April. Picking runs from June to August and in November.

When should I plant garlic in Philadelphia?

In Philadelphia, plant garlic from September to November. The best time to start is from September to November. Picking runs from May to July.

When is the last frost in Philadelphia?

In most years the last frost in Philadelphia comes around April 10. Frost is unlikely after about April 22, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 8.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Philadelphia?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), Swiss chard (about 5 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks) and cucumber (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

What to plant now in New York · What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Cleveland · What to plant now in Washington DC · What to plant now in Minneapolis · What to plant now in Detroit · What to plant now in Charlotte · What to plant now in Nashville · What to plant now in St. Louis · What to plant now in Kansas City · What to plant now in Salt Lake City · What to plant now in Sacramento · What to plant now in Atlanta · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Austin · What to plant now in Denver · What to plant now in Phoenix · What to plant now in Seattle · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Philadelphia. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).

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