Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 21224 (Baltimore, MD)
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, Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)244 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
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Powder Mill (24 mi), Avondale 2 N (57 mi).
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 58°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Powder Mill (24 mi), Avondale 2 N (57 mi).
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 21224 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 26–Oct 24
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 21: 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 8 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 24 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 4 |
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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 8 |
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 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 24 | Nov 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 11 | Dec 5 |
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 21224
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 24) and first fall frost (Nov 21). 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 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 13–27 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 13–27 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (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 26–Oct 17 (transplant) Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 24 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–31 (transplant) Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 17–Mar 31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 1–15 (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 29–Sep 12 (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 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (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 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (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 12–Oct 10 (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: Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00093784), elevation 20 ft, 3.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylburn, MD | 8 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 7 |
| Baltimore Wash Intl AP, MD | 11 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 31 |
| Annapolis Police Brks, MD | 20 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 21224
When is the last frost in 21224?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 21224 is March 24. For a more cautious planting date, use April 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 21224?
The average first fall freeze is November 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 7.
What hardiness zone is 21224?
ZIP 21224 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 21224 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
21205 Baltimore 21222 Dundalk 21231 Baltimore 21287 Baltimore 21213 Baltimore 21233 Baltimore 21202 Baltimore 21206 Baltimore
Other ZIP codes in Baltimore city
21201 21202 21205 21206 21210 21211 21212 21213 21214 21215 21216 21217 21218 21223 21226 21229 21230 21231 21233 21239 21251 21287 All Baltimore city frost dates · Maryland frost dates
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