When to plant in Cambridge, MD
USDA Zone 8aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Cambridge, Maryland — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
These dates come from a station roughly 20 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Cambridge (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Cambridge, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
ROYAL OAK 2 SSW · 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 Cambridge’s own odds, recorded at ROYAL OAK 2 SSW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 3 | Apr 15 | Mar 31 | Oct 11 | Oct 29 | Nov 10 |
| 32°F | Apr 15 | Apr 1 | Mar 18 | Oct 24 | Nov 7 | Nov 23 |
| 28°F | Apr 1 | Mar 20 | Mar 3 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 | Dec 9 |
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 Cambridge, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 41 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.
Cambridge planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cambridge, MD?
Plan for the last spring frost in Cambridge around April 1 (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 Cambridge, MD?
Expect Cambridge's first fall frost near November 7 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Cambridge in?
Cambridge is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Cambridge?
There are roughly 220 frost-free days in Cambridge (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around April 1 to the first fall frost near November 7.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cambridge?
In Cambridge, start tomato seeds indoors around February 4–February 18, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 8 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Cambridge
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cambridge’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Easton · 25 km
- California · 46 km
- Lexington Park · 47 km
- Salisbury · 47 km
- Annapolis Neck · 56 km
- Annapolis · 59 km
- Parole · 63 km
- Marlton · 66 km
Frost dates recorded at ROYAL OAK 2 SSW, 20 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 Cambridge, MD — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00187806. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/maryland/cambridge.