Frost dates & planting calendar for Washington, DC
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.
8a
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 10 to 15°F (−12.2 to −9.4°C).
Zone for ZIP 20001, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 8a means.
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).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Feb 14 to Feb 28, then plant them out from Apr 11 to Apr 25.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Apr 11 in spring, Oct 26 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
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.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Washington?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Washington is Mar 29. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Apr 11.
- When is the first frost in Washington?
- The typical first fall frost is Nov 8. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 26.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Washington?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Feb 14 and Feb 28, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Washington in?
- Washington is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 20001, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- Baltimore, MD 56 km
- Philadelphia, PA 203 km
Want this calendar on your site? Embed it: <iframe src="https://sowingdates.com/embed/district-of-columbia/washington-dc" width="100%" height="520"></iframe>