When to plant in Middletown, DE
USDA Zone 7bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Middletown, Delaware — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
These dates come from a station roughly 25 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Middletown (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 7b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Middletown, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Middletown is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
NEWARK AG FARM · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Middletown’s own odds, recorded at NEWARK AG FARM.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 9 | Apr 22 | Apr 8 | Oct 9 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
| 32°F | Apr 21 | Apr 7 | Mar 26 | Oct 19 | Nov 2 | Nov 17 |
| 28°F | Apr 8 | Mar 27 | Mar 11 | Nov 1 | Nov 13 | Dec 1 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Middletown, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 38 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Middletown planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Middletown, DE?
Plan for the last spring frost in Middletown around April 7 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Middletown, DE?
In Middletown, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 2 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Middletown in?
Middletown is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. In zone 7b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Middletown?
There are roughly 209 frost-free days in Middletown (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 7 to the first fall frost near November 2.
When should I plant tomatoes in Middletown?
In Middletown, start tomato seeds indoors around February 10–February 24, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 14 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Middletown
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Middletown’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Glasgow · 18 km
- Smyrna · 19 km
- Bear · 20 km
- Elkton · 20 km
- Brookside · 25 km
- Newark · 26 km
- Pennsville · 29 km
- Pike Creek Valley · 32 km
Frost dates recorded at NEWARK AG FARM, 25 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Middletown, DE — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00076410. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/delaware/middletown.