When to Plant in District of Columbia: Vegetable & Flower Planting Calendar
Quick answer
Plant around your local last spring frost: across the 57 District of Columbia ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median is Mar 24 and the median first fall frost is Nov 18 (nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020). Transplant tomatoes 1–2 weeks after your last frost: Zone 7 areas: Apr 5 – Apr 12; Zone 8 areas: Mar 31 – Apr 7.
District of Columbia spans USDA hardiness zones 7b–8a on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). For the 57 of its 57 ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the nearest NOAA station’s median last spring frost (32°F, 1991–2020) is Mar 24 (middle 80% of ZIP codes: Mar 24 – Mar 29) and the median first fall frost is Nov 18 (Nov 8 – Nov 18). Use this guide to time seed-starting, transplanting and fall planting.
Where these dates come from: every date range is counted from the median (50% probability) 32°F last spring and first fall frost dates in NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the area shown. The rule under each date, such as “4–6 weeks before last frost,” shows how it was counted. These are averages: in about half of years a frost still comes after the spring date, and elevation, nearby water and microclimate can shift your yard by a week or more. For dates for your exact location, enter your ZIP code in the planner.
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
District of Columbia frost dates by zone area
| Zone areas | Most common nearest NOAA stations | Median last spring frost (32°F) | Median first fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7 (16 ZIP codes) | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD, Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD, Washington Reagan Airport, VA | Mar 29middle 80%: Mar 29 – Apr 9 | Nov 8middle 80%: Oct 31 – Nov 8 |
| Zone 8 (38 ZIP codes) | Washington Reagan Airport, VA, Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | Mar 24middle 80%: Mar 24 – Mar 29 | Nov 18middle 80%: Nov 8 – Nov 18 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal freeze-date probabilities (32°F, 50% probability). Station-level medians; your yard may differ.
How this table is built: each District of Columbia ZIP code is matched to its nearest NOAA 1991–2020 freeze-data station (within 60 miles) and grouped by its 2023 USDA hardiness zone; dates are medians across the ZIP codes in each group. Some nearest stations are across the state line (Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD, Natl Arboretum Dc, MD, Washington Reagan Airport, VA). For your own ZIP, use the planner.
District of Columbia vegetable planting calendar
Planting dates for each zone area of District of Columbia, counted from that area’s median frost dates (shown under each column). Rows run in calendar order. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP.
| Plant, task and rule | Zone 7 areasLast frost Mar 29 · First frost Nov 8 | Zone 8 areasLast frost Mar 24 · First frost Nov 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| Cabbage · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| Kale · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| Tomatoes · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Jan 27 – Feb 10 |
| Peppers · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Jan 27 – Feb 10 |
| Eggplant · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Jan 27 – Feb 10 |
| Peas · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Feb 15 – Mar 1Harvest (est.) Apr 16 – May 20 | Feb 10 – Feb 24Harvest (est.) Apr 11 – May 15 |
| Spinach · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Feb 15 – Mar 1Harvest (est.) Apr 1 – Apr 30 | Feb 10 – Feb 24Harvest (est.) Mar 27 – Apr 25 |
| Basil · Start indoors4–6 weeks before last frost | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Feb 10 – Feb 24 |
| Radishes · Direct sow2–5 weeks before last frost | Feb 22 – Mar 15Harvest (est.) Mar 14 – Apr 14 | Feb 17 – Mar 10Harvest (est.) Mar 9 – Apr 9 |
| Lettuce · Direct sow2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 1 – Mar 15Harvest (est.) Apr 30 – Jun 3 | Feb 24 – Mar 10Harvest (est.) Apr 25 – May 29 |
| Onions (sets/transplants) · Plant sets/transplants2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 1 – Mar 15Harvest (est.) May 25 – Jul 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10Harvest (est.) May 20 – Jul 8 |
| Broccoli · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 1 – Mar 15Harvest (est.) Apr 20 – May 24 | Feb 24 – Mar 10Harvest (est.) Apr 15 – May 19 |
| Cabbage · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 1 – Mar 15Harvest (est.) May 10 – Jun 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10Harvest (est.) May 5 – Jun 8 |
| Kale · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Marigolds · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Mar 8 – Mar 29 | Mar 3 – Mar 24 |
| Zinnias · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Mar 8 – Mar 29 | Mar 3 – Mar 24 |
| Potatoes · Plant seed potatoes1–2 weeks before last frost | Mar 15 – Mar 22Harvest (est.) Jun 8 – Jul 10 | Mar 10 – Mar 17Harvest (est.) Jun 3 – Jul 5 |
| Marigolds · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Zinnias · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Tomatoes · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 5 – Apr 12Harvest (est.) Jun 14 – Jul 11 | Mar 31 – Apr 7Harvest (est.) Jun 9 – Jul 6 |
| Beans (bush & pole) · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 5 – Apr 12Harvest (est.) May 20 – Jun 21 | Mar 31 – Apr 7Harvest (est.) May 15 – Jun 16 |
| Sweet corn · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 5 – Apr 12Harvest (est.) Jun 9 – Jul 11 | Mar 31 – Apr 7Harvest (est.) Jun 4 – Jul 6 |
| Cucumbers · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 5 – Apr 12Harvest (est.) May 15 – Jun 16 | Mar 31 – Apr 7Harvest (est.) May 10 – Jun 11 |
| Squash · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 5 – Apr 12Harvest (est.) May 15 – Jun 1 | Mar 31 – Apr 7Harvest (est.) May 10 – May 27 |
| Pumpkins · Direct sow1–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 5 – Apr 19Harvest (est.) Jun 24 – Jul 28 | Mar 31 – Apr 14Harvest (est.) Jun 19 – Jul 23 |
| Basil · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 5 – Apr 12Harvest (est.) May 17 – May 24 | Mar 31 – Apr 7Harvest (est.) May 12 – May 19 |
| Peppers · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 12 – Apr 19Harvest (est.) Jun 16 – Jul 3 | Apr 7 – Apr 14Harvest (est.) Jun 11 – Jun 28 |
| Eggplant · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 12 – Apr 19Harvest (est.) Jun 21 – Jul 18 | Apr 7 – Apr 14Harvest (est.) Jun 16 – Jul 13 |
| Broccoli · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 16 – Aug 30Harvest (est.) Oct 5 – Nov 8 | Aug 26 – Sep 9Harvest (est.) Oct 15 – Nov 18 |
| Cabbage · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 16 – Aug 30Harvest (est.) Oct 25 – Nov 28 | Aug 26 – Sep 9Harvest (est.) Nov 4 – Dec 8 |
| Kale · Fall sow8–10 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 30 – Sep 13Harvest (est.) Oct 19 – Nov 22 | Sep 9 – Sep 23Harvest (est.) Oct 29 – Dec 2 |
| Lettuce · Fall sow6–8 weeks before first fall frost | Sep 13 – Sep 27Harvest (est.) Nov 12 – Dec 16 | Sep 23 – Oct 7Harvest (est.) Nov 22 – Dec 26 |
| Spinach · Fall sow4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech) | Sep 20 – Oct 11Harvest (est.) Nov 4 – Dec 10 | Sep 30 – Oct 21Harvest (est.) Nov 14 – Dec 20 |
| Radishes · Fall sow4–6 weeks before first fall frost | Sep 27 – Oct 11Harvest (est.) Oct 17 – Nov 10 | Oct 7 – Oct 21Harvest (est.) Oct 27 – Nov 20 |
| Daffodils · Fall plant bulbs4 weeks before to 2 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Oct 11 – Nov 22 | Oct 21 – Dec 2 |
| Tulips · Fall plant bulbs2 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Oct 25 – Dec 6 | Nov 4 – Dec 16 |
| Garlic · Fall plant cloves2 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) | Oct 25 – Nov 29Harvest (est.) Jul 2, 2027 – Aug 26, 2027 | Nov 4 – Dec 9Harvest (est.) Jul 12, 2027 – Sep 5, 2027 |
About the harvest estimates
Each expected harvest window adds the days to harvest from the sources below to the planting window. Days count from sowing seed (or planting seed potatoes, onion sets or garlic cloves) or, where marked, from setting transplants out; “Start indoors” rows have no harvest of their own. Harvest timing varies with variety and weather, and many crops keep producing for weeks after the first picking. For frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, basil) the window stops at the first fall frost: harvest may end early at the first fall frost. Flowers and bulbs show no harvest window, and kale has no sourced figure for spring transplants.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Onions in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Basil in a Home Garden.
Growing notes for each crop
- Peas: Tolerates light frost; sow when soil is workable
- Spinach: Fall crop too: sow 4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech)
- Lettuce: Bolts in heat; succession sow; fall crop too
- Radishes: Fast (3–4 weeks); sow again for fall (see Fall sow dates)
- Kale: Fall crop too (see Fall sow dates); frost sweetens leaves
- Onions (sets/transplants): Choose day-length type suited to your latitude
- Potatoes: Soil at least 45°F (UMD); hill as plants grow
- Broccoli: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Cabbage: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Tomatoes: Wait for nights reliably above about 52°F (Colorado State)
- Peppers: Need warm soil: about 65°F is optimal for transplanting (UC ANR)
- Eggplant: Transplant after nights stay above 50°F (UMN)
- Beans (bush & pole): Seeds rot in cold, wet soil
- Sweet corn: Soil 60°F+ (UNH, UMN); plant in blocks for pollination
- Cucumbers: Frost-tender; watch for cucumber beetles
- Squash: Frost-tender; watch for squash vine borer
- Pumpkins: For October pumpkins, many sow in late May–June
- Basil: Very cold-sensitive
- Marigolds: Easy warm-season annual
- Zinnias: Easy warm-season annual
- Tulips: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule. In zone 9, chill bulbs 12–16 weeks first (Clemson)
- Daffodils: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule; slightly earlier than tulips is fine
- Garlic: Harvest the following early summer
District of Columbia USDA zone guides: Zone 7 planting guide Zone 8 planting guide
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Tips for District of Columbia gardeners
- Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar — warm-season crops stall in cold soil. An inexpensive soil thermometer helps.
- Harden off transplants over 7–10 days before planting out (UC ANR, SDSU).
- Ask your local Cooperative Extension office about varieties and timing for your county; find it in the USDA NIFA land-grant university directory.
- Keep weeds down early — see our weed identification guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in District of Columbia?
Across the 57 District of Columbia ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median last spring frost (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020) at the nearest station is Mar 24, and the middle 80% of ZIP codes range from Mar 24 to Mar 29. Check the average for your ZIP code, and remember frost can occur after the average date.
When can I plant tomatoes in District of Columbia?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after your average last frost, once nights stay above about 52°F (Colorado State). Typical dates: Zone 7 areas: Apr 5 – Apr 12; Zone 8 areas: Mar 31 – Apr 7.
What USDA zone is District of Columbia?
District of Columbia spans roughly USDA hardiness zones 7b–8a on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). Hardiness zones describe winter low temperatures, not frost dates.
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