When to plant in Washington, DC
USDA Zone 8aWashington, District of Columbia frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Washington, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average first fall frost in Washington is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
NATL ARBORETUM DC · 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 Washington’s own odds, recorded at NATL ARBORETUM DC.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 28 | Apr 10 | Mar 29 | Oct 14 | Oct 29 | Nov 10 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Mar 29 | Mar 15 | Oct 26 | Nov 8 | Nov 23 |
| 28°F | Mar 31 | Mar 17 | Mar 2 | Nov 6 | Nov 20 | Dec 7 |
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 Washington, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 9 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.
Washington planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Washington, DC?
Plan for the last spring frost in Washington around March 29 (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 Washington, DC?
Expect Washington's first fall frost near November 8 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Washington in?
Washington is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Washington?
There are roughly 224 frost-free days in Washington (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 29 to the first fall frost near November 8.
When should I plant tomatoes in Washington?
In Washington, start tomato seeds indoors around February 1–February 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 5 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Washington
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Washington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Chillum · 8 km
- Arlington · 8 km
- Hyattsville · 8 km
- Hillcrest Heights · 9 km
- Takoma Park · 9 km
- Langley Park · 10 km
- Glassmanor · 10 km
- Suitland · 10 km
Frost dates recorded at NATL ARBORETUM DC, 4 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 Washington, DC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00186350. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/district-of-columbia/washington.