Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 20045 (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, Washington Reagan AP, VA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)241 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°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, 13 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, 13 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 20045 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 9 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 18: 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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 24 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 6 |
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) | Nov 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 3 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 24 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 12 | Dec 3 |
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 20045
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 24) and first fall frost (Nov 18). 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 | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 13–27 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 13–27 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 3–24 (transplant) Feb 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 24 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–31 (transplant) Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 17–Mar 31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 10–24 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 31–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 10–24 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (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: Washington Reagan AP, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013743), elevation 10 ft, 3.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 3 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 5 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 31 |
| Oxon Hill, MD | 7 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 20045
When is the last frost in 20045?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 20045 is March 24. For a more cautious planting date, use April 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 20045?
The average first fall freeze is November 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 5.
What hardiness zone is 20045?
ZIP 20045 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 20045 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
20220 Washington 20004 Washington 20230 Washington 20535 Washington 20530 Washington 20560 Washington 20408 Washington 20005 Washington
Other ZIP codes in District of Columbia
20001 20002 20003 20004 20005 20006 20007 20008 20009 20010 20011 20012 20015 20016 20017 20018 20019 20020 20024 20032 20036 20037 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.