Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 20012 (Washington, DC)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)202 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Powder Mill, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 66°, Fri 66°, Sat 64°.
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 58°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Powder Mill, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 68°, Fri 68°, Sat 64°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 20012 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 25 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 31: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 27 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 26 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 31 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 9 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 30 | Nov 9 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 20012
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 31). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 12–26 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 12–26 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 12–26 | Mar 19–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (transplant) Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 16 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 5–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 12–19 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 12–19 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 15–29 | Apr 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00182325), elevation 150 ft, 5.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 6 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| Beltsville, MD | 6 mi | Apr 10 | Nov 1 |
| Washington Reagan AP, VA | 9 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 20012
When is the last frost in 20012?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 20012 is April 9. For a more cautious planting date, use April 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 20012?
The average first fall freeze is October 31. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 16.
What hardiness zone is 20012?
ZIP 20012 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 20012 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
20912 Takoma Park 20910 Silver Spring 20015 Washington 20011 Washington 20542 Washington 20815 Chevy Chase 20901 Silver Spring 20317 Washington
Other ZIP codes in District of Columbia
20001 20002 20003 20004 20005 20006 20007 20008 20009 20010 20011 20015 20016 20017 20018 20019 20020 20024 20032 20036 20037 20045 20052 20057 All District of Columbia frost dates · District of Columbia frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.