District of Columbia frost dates
Typical and safer frost dates for 1 cities in District of Columbia, each from its nearest NOAA station. Elevation matters here as much as latitude, so check the city closest to you.
| City | Last frost · typical | Last frost · safer | First frost · typical | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Mar 29 | Apr 11 | Nov 8 | 224 |
Planting calendar for Washington
The largest city we cover in District of Columbia. Other cities: see their own page.
Frost dates
Mar 29
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 11. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Nov 8
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 26. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
224
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 224 days. Station: Natl Arboretum Dc, MD, 4 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
February
The next window opens in February.
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 25
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 25
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 14 – Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow for fall
- Aug 3 – Aug 17
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 14 – Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow for fall
- Aug 3 – Aug 17
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Apr 11
- Sow for fall
- Aug 3 – Aug 17
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
- Sow for fall
- Aug 3 – Aug 17
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 14
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 11
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 11
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 11
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 28
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 28
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 11
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 11
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
March
The next window opens in March.
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 14
- Start indoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 18
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 14
- Start indoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 18
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 14
- Start indoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 18 – Apr 25
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 14
- Start indoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 18 – Apr 25
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 18 – Apr 25
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 14
- Start indoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 18 – Apr 25
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow for fall
- Aug 3 – Aug 17
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Apr 11
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
- Sow for fall
- Aug 3 – Aug 17
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
- Sow for fall
- Aug 3 – Aug 17
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 4
April
The next window opens in April.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 11
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 11
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 11
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 11
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 11
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 11
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 18
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 18 – Apr 25
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 25
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 14
- Sow for fall
- Sep 14 – Sep 14
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.