Baltimore, Maryland: planting zone & frost dates
Baltimore is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 29 and the first fall frost around Nov 15.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Apr 4 | Nov 7 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Mar 29 | Nov 15 |
| Median (50%) | Mar 24 | Nov 21 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station MD SCI CTR BALTIMORE, MD (USW00093784), 1.3 mi (2.1 km) from the city center and 20 ft lower than the city center (-6 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 19 years.
Hardiness zone across Baltimore
Baltimore spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 25 ZIP codes): 7b (62%), 8a (38%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
ZIP codes in Baltimore and their zones
| ZIP | Zone | Share of city land |
|---|---|---|
| 21224 | 8a | 8.4% |
| 21215 | 7b | 8.1% |
| 21230 | 8a | 7.8% |
| 21229 | 7b | 6.3% |
| 21206 | 7b | 6.2% |
| 21226 | 8a | 6.1% |
| 21218 | 7b | 5.3% |
| 21213 | 8a | 4.2% |
| 21216 | 7b | 4.1% |
| 21207 | 7b | 3.6% |
| 21210 | 7b | 3.6% |
| 21209 | 7b | 3.5% |
| 21211 | 7b | 3.5% |
| 21214 | 7b | 3.5% |
| 21212 | 7b | 3.2% |
| 21223 | 7b | 3.2% |
| 21225 | 8a | 2.8% |
| 21239 | 7b | 2.7% |
| 21217 | 7b | 2.6% |
| 21205 | 8a | 2.5% |
| 21202 | 8a | 2.0% |
| 21201 | 8a | 1.6% |
| 21234 | 7b | 1.2% |
| 21231 | 8a | 1.1% |
| 21233 | 8a | 0.0% |
Vegetable planting calendar for Baltimore
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 15). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Sep 6 – Oct 4 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Apr 5 – May 10 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 5 – May 3 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 1 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Cucumber | Mar 1 – Mar 8 | Apr 12 – Apr 19 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 8 – Apr 12 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Onion | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | — | — |
| Basil | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Apr 12 – May 3 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Sep 20 – Oct 18 |
| Kale | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | Sep 6 – Oct 4 |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | — | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Peas | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 8 | Sep 6 – Sep 20 |
| Eggplant | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | — | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Radish | — | — | Feb 22 – Apr 12 | Oct 4 – Nov 1 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 8 – Apr 19 | Sep 6 – Sep 20 |
Nearby cities in Maryland
- Frederick — zone 7a, last frost Apr 7, first frost Nov 1
More: all Maryland cities · other zone 7b cities: New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Oklahoma City, OK, Nashville, TN, Washington, DC, Albuquerque, NM, Tulsa, OK, Newark, NJ