Washington, District of Columbia: planting zone & frost dates
Washington 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 Apr 3 and the first fall frost around Nov 2.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Apr 11 | Oct 26 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Apr 3 | Nov 2 |
| Median (50%) | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
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 NATL ARBORETUM DC, MD (USC00186350), 2.5 mi (4.1 km) from the city center and 7 ft lower than the city center (-2 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 29 years.
Hardiness zone across Washington
Washington spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 54 ZIP codes): 7b (57%), 8a (43%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
ZIP codes in Washington and their zones
| ZIP | Zone | Share of city land |
|---|---|---|
| 20019 | 8a | 10.0% |
| 20011 | 7b | 8.8% |
| 20032 | 8a | 8.6% |
| 20002 | 8a | 8.4% |
| 20020 | 7b | 7.5% |
| 20016 | 7b | 7.2% |
| 20015 | 7b | 5.7% |
| 20007 | 7b | 5.1% |
| 20008 | 7b | 5.1% |
| 20018 | 7b | 4.9% |
| 20003 | 8a | 3.7% |
| 20017 | 7b | 3.6% |
| 20024 | 8a | 3.6% |
| 20012 | 7b | 3.4% |
| 20001 | 8a | 3.3% |
| 20009 | 7b | 2.2% |
| 20010 | 7b | 1.6% |
| 20037 | 8a | 1.2% |
| 20373 | 8a | 0.8% |
| 20005 | 8a | 0.7% |
| 20006 | 8a | 0.6% |
| 20317 | 7b | 0.6% |
| 20036 | 8a | 0.5% |
| 20057 | 7b | 0.3% |
| 20064 | 7b | 0.3% |
| 20230 | 8a | 0.2% |
| 20319 | 8a | 0.2% |
| 20422 | 7b | 0.2% |
| 20560 | 8a | 0.2% |
| 20565 | 8a | 0.2% |
| 20052 | 8a | 0.1% |
| 20388 | 8a | 0.1% |
| 20520 | 8a | 0.1% |
| 20540 | 8a | 0.1% |
| 20566 | 8a | 0.1% |
| 20045 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20204 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20220 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20240 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20245 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20250 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20260 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20390 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20408 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20415 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20418 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20427 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20431 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20510 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20530 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20535 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20542 | 7b | 0.0% |
| 20551 | 8a | 0.0% |
| 20591 | 8a | 0.0% |
Vegetable planting calendar for Washington
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 2). 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 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | Mar 6 – Apr 17 | Aug 24 – Sep 21 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Apr 10 – May 15 | Aug 10 – Aug 24 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 10 – May 8 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 6 – Mar 13 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | Apr 10 – May 1 | Aug 10 – Aug 24 |
| Cucumber | Mar 6 – Mar 13 | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | Apr 10 – May 1 | Aug 10 – Aug 24 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 13 – Apr 17 | Aug 10 – Aug 24 |
| Onion | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 6 – Mar 27 | — | — |
| Basil | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 | Apr 17 – May 8 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Sep 7 – Oct 5 |
| Kale | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Mar 6 – Mar 27 | Mar 6 – Mar 27 | Aug 24 – Sep 21 |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | — | Aug 10 – Aug 24 |
| Peas | — | — | Feb 20 – Mar 13 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Eggplant | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | — | Aug 10 – Aug 24 |
| Radish | — | — | Feb 27 – Apr 17 | Sep 21 – Oct 19 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 6 – Mar 27 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 13 – Apr 24 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
Nearby cities in District of Columbia
More: all District of Columbia cities · other zone 7b cities: New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Oklahoma City, OK, Nashville, TN, Baltimore, MD, Albuquerque, NM, Tulsa, OK, Newark, NJ