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When to plant in Westminster, MD

USDA Zone 7a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Westminster, Maryland — all computed from Westminster's nearest NOAA weather station.

These dates come from a station roughly 21 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Westminster (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. In zone 7a, Westminster supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.

Station · HANOVER 4 SW · 21.4 km
Last spring frost
April 24
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 20
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
179 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for WestminsterA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Westminster: last spring frost around April 24, first fall frost around October 20, about 179 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average first fall frost in Westminster is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

HANOVER 4 SW · 1991–2020

The 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 Westminster’s own odds, recorded at HANOVER 4 SW.

Frost-probability curves for WestminsterProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 20, giving about 179 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 22May 7Apr 22Sep 28Oct 8Oct 21
32°FMay 11Apr 24Apr 9Oct 6Oct 20Nov 2
28°FApr 26Apr 9Mar 26Oct 14Oct 31Nov 14

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 14July 28
Fall sowin 9 days
Broccoli
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 9 days
Cabbage
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 9 days
Carrot
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 9 days
Cauliflower
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 9 days
Napa Cabbage
July 28August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Beet
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Collards
August 11September 8
Fall sowin 23 days
Endive
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Escarole
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Kale
August 11September 8
Fall sowin 23 days
Kohlrabi
August 11September 8
Fall sowin 23 days
Peas
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Radicchio
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Swiss Chard
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Turnip
August 11September 8

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Westminster, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 26 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

HANOVER 4 SW
Primary
21 km · 170 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 24
FALL
Oct 20
MILLERS 4 NE
23 km · 262 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 19
FALL
Oct 25
EMMITSBURG 2 SE
26 km · 123 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 22
FALL
Oct 20

Westminster planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Westminster, MD?

Plan for the last spring frost in Westminster around April 24 (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 Westminster, MD?

Expect Westminster's first fall frost near October 20 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Westminster in?

Westminster is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Westminster?

Westminster has about 179 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 24) and first fall frost (October 20).

When should I plant tomatoes in Westminster?

For Westminster, sow tomatoes indoors about February 27–March 13 and move the seedlings out around May 1, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Westminster

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Westminster’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at HANOVER 4 SW, 21 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Westminster, MD — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00363665. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/maryland/westminster.
When to Plant in Westminster, MD — Frost Dates & Zone 7a — BlissGarden