When to plant in Ellicott City, MD
USDA Zone 7bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Ellicott City, Maryland — all computed from Ellicott City's nearest NOAA weather station.
Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 18 km from Ellicott City, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. In zone 7b, Ellicott City supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
CYLBURN · 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 Ellicott City’s own odds, recorded at CYLBURN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 1 | Apr 14 | Apr 2 | Oct 13 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 |
| 32°F | Apr 13 | Apr 2 | Mar 20 | Oct 27 | Nov 7 | Nov 21 |
| 28°F | Apr 3 | Mar 22 | Mar 8 | 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 Ellicott City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 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.
Ellicott City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Ellicott City, MD?
Plan for the last spring frost in Ellicott City around April 2 (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 Ellicott City, MD?
The first fall frost in Ellicott City typically arrives around November 7 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Ellicott City in?
Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City?
Ellicott City has about 219 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 2) and first fall frost (November 7).
When should I plant tomatoes in Ellicott City?
For Ellicott City, sow tomatoes indoors about February 5–February 19 and move the seedlings out around April 9, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Ellicott City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Ellicott City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Catonsville · 8 km
- Woodlawn · 8 km
- Columbia · 9 km
- Ilchester · 9 km
- Milford Mill · 10 km
- Randallstown · 11 km
- Elkridge · 12 km
- Lochearn · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at CYLBURN, 18 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 Ellicott City, MD — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00182308. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/maryland/ellicott-city.