When to plant in College Park, MD
USDA Zone 7bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for College Park, Maryland — all computed from College Park's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 7b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in College Park, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average first fall frost in College Park is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BELTSVILLE · 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 College Park’s own odds, recorded at BELTSVILLE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 11 | Apr 24 | Apr 10 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F | May 1 | Apr 10 | Mar 27 | Oct 16 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
| 28°F | Apr 10 | Mar 29 | Mar 12 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 | Nov 30 |
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 College Park, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 10 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.
College Park planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in College Park, MD?
Plan for the last spring frost in College Park around April 10 (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 College Park, MD?
The first fall frost in College Park typically arrives around November 1 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is College Park in?
College Park 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 College Park?
There are roughly 205 frost-free days in College Park (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 10 to the first fall frost near November 1.
When should I plant tomatoes in College Park?
In College Park, start tomato seeds indoors around February 13–February 27, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 17 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in College Park
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to College Park’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Adelphi · 3 km
- Langley Park · 4 km
- Hyattsville · 4 km
- Greenbelt · 4 km
- East Riverdale · 5 km
- Chillum · 5 km
- Beltsville · 5 km
- Takoma Park · 6 km
Frost dates recorded at BELTSVILLE, 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 College Park, MD — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00180700. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/maryland/college-park.