When to Sow Sweet Corn in Pennsylvania
Sweet corn goes into Pennsylvania ground once the soil sits above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, not simply once frost risk passes.
Gardening in Pennsylvania
Everything we have worked out for Pennsylvania: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Philadelphia, the last spring freeze runs March 29 to April 6 and the first fall freeze runs November 5 to November 16, USDA zones 5a-7b, 4,116 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 21.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Pennsylvania: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Pennsylvania
In most of Pennsylvania, autumn spinach goes into the ground somewhere between late August and late September, counted backward from the first fall frost.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Pennsylvania?
Spinach in Pennsylvania bolts early most years, and the reason has less to do with the state’s weather than most gardeners expect.
Will Pennsylvania Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
Yes, in most cases: Pennsylvania’s representative soil drains well, and drainage is the one condition an asparagus bed actually demands.
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Pennsylvania
Plant asparagus crowns in early spring, timed to this region’s frost window: around March 29 to April 6 in the Philadelphia area, running two to four…
Growing Sweet Corn in Pennsylvania: Will It Ripen?
Yes, sweet corn ripens in Pennsylvania, but the calendar is tighter than most gardeners assume.
Growing Asparagus in Pennsylvania: Fifteen Years in One Spot
Pennsylvania can grow asparagus well, provided the spot drains. The state’s representative soil, the Hazleton series, is classified well drained, which…
When to Sow Pumpkins in Pennsylvania
Pumpkin seed goes into Pennsylvania ground once the soil itself reaches 65°F, which most years lands somewhere from mid-May in the Philadelphia corridor…
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Pennsylvania?
The window is tight but not impossible. With Pennsylvania’s first fall frost landing between November 5 and November 16, and a pumpkin needing 45 to 55…
When to Sow Parsnips in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania parsnip growers get a straightforward answer: sow in place two to three weeks before the last spring frost, typically mid-to-late March…