Place guide
Planting zones in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
This metro spans USDA zones 7a to 8a, so there is no single zone for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and anyone who gives you one is rounding. 53% of its ZIP codes are zone 7b; the rest are not.
Your ZIP code
Get the exact answer for your address
Everything above describes Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV as a whole. Hardiness zones and freeze dates are published per ZIP code, so yours is exact — enter it and this page will tell you your zone, which NOAA station it comes from and how far away that station is.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV does not have one planting answer
Its own weather stations disagree about 15 of the 32 crops in this table right now, so any single list would be wrong for part of the metro area. That is not a gap in the data — it is what the data says.
- Shortest season
- 174 days
WINCHESTER 7 SE, VA US (USC00449186) - Longest season
- 241 days
WASHINGTON REAGAN AP, VA US (USW00013743)
67 days of growing season separate those two stations, and both serve ZIP codes in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. The ZIP lookup above answers for one address instead of averaging a place that has no average.
Why the hardiness zone does not settle this
A USDA zone is a winter-minimum statistic. It was never a growing-season one, and it does not behave like one: within a single zone the growing season runs a median 54 days wider at the 10th–90th percentile, and annual growing degree days vary by 2.02×.
The zones also overlap rather than stack — 30% of zone 6b freezes before the median zone 6a station. The zone tells you what survives your winter; the station tells you what finishes before your autumn.
All 32 stations agreeAt least one station
Every one of the 32 NOAA stations serving this metro area counts April 26 – October 18 as growing season (175 days). Widening to any single station gives March 24 – November 18 (239 days).
That is a 64-day difference inside one metro area — which is why this page gives ranges rather than a single planting date. The ZIP lookup above resolves it to one station.
Which zone you are in depends where you are
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV covers 3 hardiness zones. A guide that gives the metro one zone has picked whichever is largest and rounded everyone else into it — which is fine for the 53% in zone 7b and wrong for the other 47%. Here is the actual split.
| Zone | ZIP codes | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7b | 183 | 53% | |
| 7a | 108 | 31% | |
| 8a | 52 | 15% |
Zones are published per ZIP code, so yours is exact even though the metro's is not. The hardiness tool will tell you which one you are in.
Your freeze dates
Those are the earliest and latest medians among the 32 stations serving this metro — not an average, and not one station standing in for the rest. Half of years freeze later than a station's own median.
The spread is the point. Even in a metro that is one hardiness zone throughout, its stations disagree about the last spring freeze. Hardiness zone and frost date measure different things — a zone is the average annual coldest night, a freeze date is when the season turns — and a place can be uniform in one and varied in the other. Use the tools below with your own ZIP rather than the ends of this range.
Your growing season
NOAA publishes a growing-season length for each station, and across the 32 stations serving Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV it runs 174–241 days . That figure is published, not computed from the two freeze dates — subtracting one from the other gives the wrong answer wherever a season crosses New Year. Mean summer high (June–August) runs 80–88 °F , below the 90 °F point where cool-season crops reliably bolt. Summer rain over the same months runs 10.7–14.0" across those 27 stations, against the rough inch a week — about 13 inches over the same 92 days — that a vegetable garden is usually reckoned to want. The middle station covers about 92% of it, so expect to make up the rest. The inches are NOAA's published normals; the inch a week is a rule of thumb, and it takes no account of a 85 °F summer afternoon drying the soil faster than a cool one.
When to start seeds in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Every spring job for 63 crop dates, counted from this metro's own last spring freeze. Each is a range across all 32 stations — the earliest and latest that job falls anywhere in the metro — because no one station speaks for the whole area.
| Crop | Job | When | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Onions | Start indoors | January 27 – March 1 | 8 weeks before |
| Peppers | Start indoors | January 27 – March 1 | 8 weeks before |
| Broccoli | Start indoors | February 10 – March 15 | 6 weeks before |
| Cabbage | Start indoors | February 10 – March 15 | 6 weeks before |
| Collards | Start indoors | February 10 – March 15 | 6 weeks before |
| Kale | Start indoors | February 10 – March 15 | 6 weeks before |
| Leaf Lettuce | Start indoors | February 10 – March 15 | 6 weeks before |
| Peas | Direct sow | February 10 – March 15 | 6 weeks before |
| Spinach | Direct sow | February 10 – March 15 | 6 weeks before |
| Sweet Potato | Start indoors | February 10 – March 15 | 6 weeks before |
| Tomatoes | Start indoors | February 10 – March 15 | 6 weeks before |
| Bok Choy | Start indoors | February 17 – March 22 | 5 weeks before |
| Kohlrabi | Start indoors | February 17 – March 22 | 5 weeks before |
| Swiss Chard | Start indoors | February 17 – March 22 | 5 weeks before |
| Arugula | Direct sow | February 24 – March 29 | 4 weeks before |
| Baby Salad Greens | Direct sow | February 24 – March 29 | 4 weeks before |
| Beets | Direct sow | February 24 – March 29 | 4 weeks before |
| Green Onions | Direct sow | February 24 – March 29 | 4 weeks before |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow | February 24 – March 29 | 4 weeks before |
| Okra | Start indoors | February 24 – March 29 | 4 weeks before |
| Radishes | Direct sow | February 24 – March 29 | 4 weeks before |
| Turnips | Direct sow | February 24 – March 29 | 4 weeks before |
| Cabbage | Set out | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Carrots | Direct sow | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Collards | Direct sow | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Collards | Set out | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Cucumbers | Start indoors | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Green Onions | Set out | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Kale | Direct sow | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Kale | Set out | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Kohlrabi | Set out | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Leaf Lettuce | Direct sow | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Pumpkins | Start indoors | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Summer Squash | Start indoors | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Winter Squash | Start indoors | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Zucchini | Start indoors | March 3 – April 5 | 3 weeks before |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow | March 10 – April 12 | 2 weeks before |
| Bok Choy | Set out | March 10 – April 12 | 2 weeks before |
| Broccoli | Set out | March 10 – April 12 | 2 weeks before |
| Cilantro | Direct sow | March 10 – April 12 | 2 weeks before |
| Leaf Lettuce | Set out | March 10 – April 12 | 2 weeks before |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow | March 10 – April 12 | 2 weeks before |
| Swiss Chard | Set out | March 10 – April 12 | 2 weeks before |
| Dill | Direct sow | March 17 – April 19 | 1 week before |
| Bush Beans | Direct sow | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Cucumbers | Set out | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Pumpkins | Direct sow | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Pumpkins | Set out | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Summer Squash | Direct sow | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Summer Squash | Set out | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Tomatoes | Set out | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Winter Squash | Set out | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Zucchini | Direct sow | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Zucchini | Set out | March 31 – May 3 | 1 week after |
| Cucumbers | Direct sow | April 7 – May 10 | 2 weeks after |
| Okra | Direct sow | April 7 – May 10 | 2 weeks after |
| Okra | Set out | April 7 – May 10 | 2 weeks after |
| Peppers | Set out | April 7 – May 10 | 2 weeks after |
| Southern Peas | Direct sow | April 7 – May 10 | 2 weeks after |
| Sweet Potato | Set out | April 7 – May 10 | 2 weeks after |
The week offsets are conventional extension guidance and vary by variety; the freeze dates they are counted from are measured. For a single date rather than a range, run when do I start my seeds? with your own ZIP code.
What survives the winter changes across Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Of 74 perennial fruits, nuts, berries, vegetables and herbs, 58 come through the winter in zone 7a and only 56 in zone 7b. That is a different garden at each end of the same metro.
| Zone | ZIPs | Survive | Fail for being too warm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7a | 108 | 58 of 74 | 1 |
| 7b | 183 | 56 of 74 | 3 |
| 8a | 52 | 57 of 74 | 8 |
The last column is the counterintuitive one, and it is why the totals do not simply rise as the winters get milder. Most temperate fruit needs a documented number of hours below about 45 °F to break dormancy and set a crop, so an apple fails in a winter that is too warm; currants and rhubarb cook in the summer heat that comes with it. See the full list with reasons.
Cautious — shortens the seasonMedian across stationsOptimistic
- Last spring freeze
- Plan to May 15 to be careful. Median March 24 – April 26 across 32 stations; March 7 is the optimistic end.
- First fall freeze
- Plan to October 5 to be careful. Median October 18 – November 18 across 32 stations; December 6 is the optimistic end.
NOAA publishes these as probabilities, not averages — the middle figure is a median, so half of years fall either side of it. The cautious end is the 10% tail: in roughly nine years in ten the freeze falls on the safe side of it.
The 32 stations behind these numbers
All 32 NOAA stations whose normals this page quotes, spanning about 164 km north to south. Every one is named with its identifier in the station list below — this page does not single one out, because no one station speaks for a whole metro area.
A relative sketch, not a map with a projection: longitude is adjusted for latitude so the shape is not stretched, and there is no basemap. For the one station nearest a specific address, with its real distance, use the ZIP lookup above.
Every figure above comes from these, and each is named so you can check it. Which station serves a given ZIP code, and how far away it is, varies across the metro — the table below gives it per ZIP code rather than this page averaging it.
| Station | NOAA ID | Last spring freeze | First fall freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beltsville, MD | USC00180700 | April 10 | November 1 | 202 days |
| Boston 4 SE, VA | USC00440860 | April 21 | October 22 | 184 days |
| Catoctin Mtn Park, MD | USC00181530 | April 14 | October 30 | 197 days |
| Corbin, VA | USC00442009 | April 14 | October 27 | 195 days |
| Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | USC00182325 | April 9 | October 31 | 202 days |
| Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | USC00182336 | April 14 | October 29 | 196 days |
| Emmitsburg 2 SE, MD | USC00182906 | April 22 | October 20 | 179 days |
| Frederick Police Brks, MD | USC00183348 | April 2 | November 6 | 218 days |
| Fredericksburg Sewage, VA | USC00443204 | April 6 | November 1 | 207 days |
| Front Royal, VA | USC00443229 | April 13 | October 28 | 196 days |
| Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD | USC00183675 | April 22 | October 22 | 183 days |
| Laurel 3 W, MD | USC00185111 | April 5 | November 9 | 218 days |
| Manassas, VA | USC00445204 | April 12 | October 27 | 197 days |
| Martinsburg E Wv Rgnl AP, WV | USW00013734 | April 20 | October 22 | 183 days |
| Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | USC00185865 | April 17 | October 27 | 195 days |
| Mt Wx 3, VA | USC00445853 | April 17 | October 29 | 194 days |
| Mt Wx, VA | USC00445851 | April 17 | November 1 | 198 days |
| Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | USC00186350 | March 29 | November 8 | 224 days |
| Oxon Hill, MD | USC00186800 | April 3 | November 8 | 217 days |
| Piedmont Rsch Stn, VA | USC00446712 | April 7 | October 30 | 204 days |
| Purcellville, VA | USC00444909 | April 16 | October 25 | 189 days |
| Quantico Mcas, VA | USW00013773 | March 28 | November 8 | 226 days |
| Rockville 1 NE, MD | USC00187705 | April 1 | November 6 | 219 days |
| Sharpsburg 5 S, MD | USC00188207 | April 26 | October 18 | 175 days |
| Sperryville, VA | USC00447985 | April 16 | October 27 | 192 days |
| Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD | USC00189070 | April 9 | October 29 | 203 days |
| Vienna, VA | USC00448737 | April 14 | October 29 | 198 days |
| Warrenton 3 SE, VA | USC00448888 | April 9 | November 1 | 205 days |
| Washington Dc Dulles AP, VA | USW00093738 | April 15 | October 24 | 194 days |
| Washington Reagan AP, VA | USW00013743 | March 24 | November 18 | 241 days |
| Wfo Sterling, VA | USC00448084 | April 13 | October 26 | 195 days |
| Winchester 7 SE, VA | USC00449186 | April 25 | October 18 | 174 days |
These are medians, not averages — NOAA publishes freeze dates as a probability distribution, and half of years freeze later than the date shown.
Every ZIP code in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Zones are published per ZIP code, not per metro area, so this is the exact answer rather than the metro area's average. The station column is the nearest one to that ZIP code's centroid and how far away it is — the same figure the tools use, shown here so you can see which ZIP codes are well covered and which are reaching.
| ZIP code | USDA zone | Nearest NOAA station | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20001 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 4.1 km |
| 20002 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 1.5 km |
| 20003 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 3.9 km |
| 20005 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 5.4 km |
| 20006 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.6 km |
| 20007 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 3.0 km |
| 20008 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 4.7 km |
| 20009 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 5.9 km |
| 20010 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 5.8 km |
| 20011 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 6.3 km |
| 20012 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 8.4 km |
| 20015 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 5.7 km |
| 20016 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 2.0 km |
| 20017 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 3.4 km |
| 20018 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 1.5 km |
| 20019 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 3.4 km |
| 20020 | 7b | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.0 km |
| 20024 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 2.6 km |
| 20032 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 2.4 km |
| 20036 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 6.2 km |
| 20037 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.2 km |
| 20045 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.4 km |
| 20052 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.7 km |
| 20057 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 4.7 km |
| 20064 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 3.6 km |
| 20105 | 7a | Wfo Sterling, VA | 10.4 km |
| 20106 | 7a | Boston 4 SE, VA | 19.0 km |
| 20109 | 7a | Manassas, VA | 7.5 km |
| 20110 | 7a | Manassas, VA | 1.5 km |
| 20111 | 7a | Manassas, VA | 5.9 km |
| 20112 | 7a | Manassas, VA | 8.8 km |
| 20115 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 18.4 km |
| 20117 | 7a | Mt Wx, VA | 15.2 km |
| 20119 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 14.1 km |
| 20120 | 7a | Washington Dc Dulles AP, VA | 9.5 km |
| 20121 | 7a | Manassas, VA | 9.0 km |
| 20124 | 7b | Manassas, VA | 10.3 km |
| 20129 | 7a | Purcellville, VA | 10.3 km |
| 20130 | 7a | Mt Wx 3, VA | 5.0 km |
| 20132 | 7a | Purcellville, VA | 3.0 km |
| 20135 | 7a | Mt Wx 3, VA | 2.4 km |
| 20136 | 7a | Manassas, VA | 4.5 km |
| 20137 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 14.5 km |
| 20141 | 7a | Purcellville, VA | 7.4 km |
| 20143 | 7a | Washington Dc Dulles AP, VA | 11.2 km |
| 20144 | 7a | Mt Wx, VA | 16.5 km |
| 20147 | 7a | Wfo Sterling, VA | 7.3 km |
| 20148 | 7a | Wfo Sterling, VA | 4.4 km |
| 20151 | 7b | Washington Dc Dulles AP, VA | 5.1 km |
| 20152 | 7a | Washington Dc Dulles AP, VA | 6.6 km |
| 20155 | 7a | Manassas, VA | 13.8 km |
| 20158 | 7a | Purcellville, VA | 4.4 km |
| 20164 | 7b | Wfo Sterling, VA | 8.7 km |
| 20165 | 7b | Wfo Sterling, VA | 12.2 km |
| 20166 | 7a | Wfo Sterling, VA | 2.1 km |
| 20169 | 7a | Washington Dc Dulles AP, VA | 17.2 km |
| 20170 | 7b | Washington Dc Dulles AP, VA | 8.5 km |
| 20171 | 7b | Washington Dc Dulles AP, VA | 6.0 km |
| 20175 | 7b | Purcellville, VA | 12.6 km |
| 20176 | 7a | Purcellville, VA | 15.8 km |
| 20180 | 7a | Purcellville, VA | 15.4 km |
| 20181 | 7a | Manassas, VA | 8.7 km |
| 20184 | 7a | Mt Wx, VA | 7.0 km |
| 20186 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 6.3 km |
| 20187 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 5.3 km |
| 20190 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 8.7 km |
| 20191 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 7.0 km |
| 20194 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 10.8 km |
| 20197 | 7a | Purcellville, VA | 9.2 km |
| 20198 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 22.7 km |
| 20204 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.5 km |
| 20220 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.4 km |
| 20230 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.1 km |
| 20240 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.2 km |
| 20245 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.1 km |
| 20250 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.2 km |
| 20260 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.0 km |
| 20317 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 4.5 km |
| 20319 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 2.6 km |
| 20373 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 2.0 km |
| 20388 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.4 km |
| 20390 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 4.3 km |
| 20408 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.0 km |
| 20415 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.3 km |
| 20418 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.1 km |
| 20422 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 3.8 km |
| 20427 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 6.1 km |
| 20431 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.7 km |
| 20510 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 3.9 km |
| 20520 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.3 km |
| 20530 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.0 km |
| 20535 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 5.2 km |
| 20540 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 4.1 km |
| 20542 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 5.9 km |
| 20551 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.0 km |
| 20560 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.7 km |
| 20565 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.8 km |
| 20566 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.6 km |
| 20591 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.4 km |
| 20601 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 18.1 km |
| 20602 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 17.8 km |
| 20603 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 18.6 km |
| 20607 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 13.9 km |
| 20608 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 10.2 km |
| 20611 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 23.2 km |
| 20612 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 4.5 km |
| 20613 | 7b | Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD | 20.4 km |
| 20616 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 17.4 km |
| 20617 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 12.4 km |
| 20622 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 15.7 km |
| 20623 | 7b | Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD | 13.8 km |
| 20625 | 8a | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 28.1 km |
| 20632 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 21.4 km |
| 20637 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 4.5 km |
| 20640 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 9.1 km |
| 20645 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 27.4 km |
| 20646 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 24.1 km |
| 20658 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 14.6 km |
| 20661 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 27.6 km |
| 20662 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 11.5 km |
| 20664 | 7b | Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD | 23.2 km |
| 20675 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 23.7 km |
| 20677 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 22.9 km |
| 20693 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 19.1 km |
| 20695 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 23.2 km |
| 20705 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 3.4 km |
| 20706 | 7b | Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD | 4.1 km |
| 20707 | 7b | Laurel 3 W, MD | 1.9 km |
| 20708 | 7b | Laurel 3 W, MD | 7.9 km |
| 20710 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 5.0 km |
| 20712 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 3.3 km |
| 20715 | 7a | Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD | 6.2 km |
| 20716 | 7b | Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD | 9.0 km |
| 20720 | 7b | Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD | 3.5 km |
| 20721 | 7b | Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD | 6.2 km |
| 20722 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 2.9 km |
| 20735 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 9.4 km |
| 20737 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 7.2 km |
| 20740 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 3.1 km |
| 20742 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 4.1 km |
| 20743 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 7.3 km |
| 20744 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 5.6 km |
| 20745 | 8a | Oxon Hill, MD | 1.1 km |
| 20746 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 8.0 km |
| 20747 | 7b | Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD | 9.9 km |
| 20748 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 5.7 km |
| 20762 | 7b | Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD | 9.9 km |
| 20769 | 7b | Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD | 2.6 km |
| 20770 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 5.0 km |
| 20771 | 7b | Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD | 6.3 km |
| 20772 | 7b | Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD | 8.0 km |
| 20774 | 7b | Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD | 2.7 km |
| 20781 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 4.9 km |
| 20782 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 5.9 km |
| 20783 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 4.8 km |
| 20784 | 7b | Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD | 7.8 km |
| 20785 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 7.6 km |
| 20812 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 4.1 km |
| 20814 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 7.4 km |
| 20815 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 5.8 km |
| 20816 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 2.1 km |
| 20817 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 7.3 km |
| 20818 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 5.8 km |
| 20832 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 8.2 km |
| 20833 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 14.3 km |
| 20837 | 7b | Wfo Sterling, VA | 17.0 km |
| 20838 | 7a | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 12.7 km |
| 20839 | 7b | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 19.5 km |
| 20841 | 7b | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 12.1 km |
| 20842 | 7b | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 17.4 km |
| 20850 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 3.0 km |
| 20851 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 3.5 km |
| 20852 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 5.9 km |
| 20853 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 4.7 km |
| 20854 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 9.8 km |
| 20855 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 4.3 km |
| 20860 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 11.3 km |
| 20861 | 7b | Laurel 3 W, MD | 11.1 km |
| 20862 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 14.4 km |
| 20866 | 7b | Laurel 3 W, MD | 4.0 km |
| 20868 | 7b | Laurel 3 W, MD | 7.0 km |
| 20871 | 7a | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 4.3 km |
| 20872 | 7b | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 4.4 km |
| 20874 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 13.7 km |
| 20876 | 7b | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 6.4 km |
| 20877 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 5.8 km |
| 20878 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 8.9 km |
| 20879 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 7.5 km |
| 20880 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 5.0 km |
| 20882 | 7b | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 7.2 km |
| 20886 | 7b | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 8.8 km |
| 20889 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 7.6 km |
| 20892 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 6.9 km |
| 20894 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 6.4 km |
| 20895 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 10.2 km |
| 20896 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 8.6 km |
| 20899 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 7.6 km |
| 20901 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 6.8 km |
| 20902 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 9.7 km |
| 20903 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 4.4 km |
| 20904 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 6.0 km |
| 20905 | 7b | Laurel 3 W, MD | 8.1 km |
| 20906 | 7b | Rockville 1 NE, MD | 8.2 km |
| 20910 | 7b | Beltsville, MD | 9.6 km |
| 20912 | 7b | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD | 8.1 km |
| 21701 | 7a | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 9.6 km |
| 21702 | 7a | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 7.0 km |
| 21703 | 7b | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 6.2 km |
| 21704 | 7a | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 8.7 km |
| 21705 | 7b | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 2.6 km |
| 21710 | 7b | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 12.0 km |
| 21714 | 7b | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 6.1 km |
| 21716 | 7a | Sharpsburg 5 S, MD | 12.1 km |
| 21717 | 7b | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 8.6 km |
| 21718 | 7a | Sharpsburg 5 S, MD | 8.0 km |
| 21727 | 7a | Emmitsburg 2 SE, MD | 4.1 km |
| 21754 | 7a | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 10.4 km |
| 21755 | 7b | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 12.8 km |
| 21758 | 7a | Sharpsburg 5 S, MD | 7.5 km |
| 21762 | 7a | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 17.9 km |
| 21769 | 7a | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 11.5 km |
| 21770 | 7a | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 9.7 km |
| 21771 | 7a | Damascus 3 Ssw, MD | 15.8 km |
| 21773 | 7a | Catoctin Mtn Park, MD | 12.8 km |
| 21774 | 7a | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 14.2 km |
| 21777 | 7a | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 17.1 km |
| 21778 | 7a | Emmitsburg 2 SE, MD | 7.7 km |
| 21780 | 7a | Catoctin Mtn Park, MD | 3.1 km |
| 21788 | 7a | Catoctin Mtn Park, MD | 8.5 km |
| 21790 | 7a | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 17.9 km |
| 21791 | 7a | Emmitsburg 2 SE, MD | 17.9 km |
| 21793 | 7a | Frederick Police Brks, MD | 11.5 km |
| 21798 | 7a | Emmitsburg 2 SE, MD | 15.4 km |
| 22003 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 9.5 km |
| 22015 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 11.8 km |
| 22025 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 11.1 km |
| 22026 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 6.7 km |
| 22027 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 5.7 km |
| 22030 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 7.6 km |
| 22031 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 4.5 km |
| 22032 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 8.3 km |
| 22033 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 8.5 km |
| 22035 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 7.5 km |
| 22039 | 7b | Manassas, VA | 15.5 km |
| 22041 | 7b | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 9.3 km |
| 22042 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 8.8 km |
| 22043 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 8.0 km |
| 22044 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 9.2 km |
| 22046 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 8.2 km |
| 22060 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 17.7 km |
| 22066 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 13.4 km |
| 22079 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 21.3 km |
| 22101 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 4.5 km |
| 22102 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 8.3 km |
| 22124 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 3.5 km |
| 22125 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 20.5 km |
| 22134 | 7a | Quantico Mcas, VA | 9.8 km |
| 22150 | 7b | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 15.6 km |
| 22151 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 12.1 km |
| 22152 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 14.0 km |
| 22153 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 17.0 km |
| 22172 | 7a | Quantico Mcas, VA | 12.4 km |
| 22180 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 2.9 km |
| 22181 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 1.5 km |
| 22182 | 7b | Vienna, VA | 5.3 km |
| 22191 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 14.0 km |
| 22192 | 7b | Manassas, VA | 16.1 km |
| 22193 | 7b | Manassas, VA | 15.8 km |
| 22201 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 6.0 km |
| 22202 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 1.8 km |
| 22203 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 7.2 km |
| 22204 | 7b | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.8 km |
| 22205 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 6.5 km |
| 22206 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.6 km |
| 22207 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 3.7 km |
| 22209 | 8a | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 6.0 km |
| 22211 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.0 km |
| 22213 | 7b | Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD | 6.5 km |
| 22214 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.0 km |
| 22301 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 3.8 km |
| 22302 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 4.8 km |
| 22303 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 7.3 km |
| 22304 | 7b | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 7.8 km |
| 22305 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 2.8 km |
| 22306 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 11.0 km |
| 22307 | 8a | Oxon Hill, MD | 6.2 km |
| 22308 | 8a | Oxon Hill, MD | 9.3 km |
| 22309 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 12.8 km |
| 22310 | 7b | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 10.4 km |
| 22311 | 7b | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 8.1 km |
| 22312 | 7b | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 10.9 km |
| 22314 | 8a | Washington Reagan AP, VA | 5.0 km |
| 22315 | 7b | Oxon Hill, MD | 13.9 km |
| 22401 | 7b | Fredericksburg Sewage, VA | 3.4 km |
| 22405 | 7b | Fredericksburg Sewage, VA | 5.0 km |
| 22406 | 7a | Fredericksburg Sewage, VA | 15.0 km |
| 22407 | 7a | Fredericksburg Sewage, VA | 11.3 km |
| 22408 | 7b | Corbin, VA | 6.9 km |
| 22534 | 7a | Corbin, VA | 28.7 km |
| 22551 | 7a | Fredericksburg Sewage, VA | 24.5 km |
| 22553 | 7a | Fredericksburg Sewage, VA | 16.6 km |
| 22554 | 7b | Quantico Mcas, VA | 11.0 km |
| 22556 | 7a | Quantico Mcas, VA | 18.8 km |
| 22610 | 7a | Front Royal, VA | 12.2 km |
| 22611 | 7a | Winchester 7 SE, VA | 11.5 km |
| 22620 | 7a | Mt Wx 3, VA | 12.0 km |
| 22623 | 7a | Front Royal, VA | 7.1 km |
| 22627 | 7a | Sperryville, VA | 14.7 km |
| 22630 | 7a | Front Royal, VA | 3.0 km |
| 22639 | 7a | Front Royal, VA | 14.4 km |
| 22640 | 7a | Front Royal, VA | 10.9 km |
| 22642 | 7a | Front Royal, VA | 14.2 km |
| 22643 | 7a | Front Royal, VA | 14.7 km |
| 22646 | 7a | Mt Wx 3, VA | 13.5 km |
| 22663 | 7a | Winchester 7 SE, VA | 14.5 km |
| 22701 | 7a | Boston 4 SE, VA | 15.4 km |
| 22712 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 14.2 km |
| 22713 | 7a | Boston 4 SE, VA | 3.6 km |
| 22714 | 7a | Boston 4 SE, VA | 18.5 km |
| 22716 | 7a | Boston 4 SE, VA | 9.4 km |
| 22718 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 25.1 km |
| 22720 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 24.6 km |
| 22724 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 13.0 km |
| 22726 | 7a | Boston 4 SE, VA | 29.5 km |
| 22728 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 14.0 km |
| 22729 | 7a | Piedmont Rsch Stn, VA | 16.1 km |
| 22733 | 7a | Piedmont Rsch Stn, VA | 12.1 km |
| 22734 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 17.3 km |
| 22736 | 7a | Fredericksburg Sewage, VA | 24.6 km |
| 22737 | 7a | Boston 4 SE, VA | 9.8 km |
| 22740 | 7a | Sperryville, VA | 5.3 km |
| 22741 | 7a | Boston 4 SE, VA | 23.0 km |
| 22742 | 7a | Warrenton 3 SE, VA | 24.6 km |
| 22746 | 7a | Boston 4 SE, VA | 11.2 km |
| 22747 | 7a | Sperryville, VA | 8.0 km |
| 22749 | 7a | Sperryville, VA | 5.5 km |
| 25414 | 7a | Purcellville, VA | 17.4 km |
| 25425 | 7a | Sharpsburg 5 S, MD | 11.1 km |
| 25430 | 7a | Martinsburg E Wv Rgnl AP, WV | 9.2 km |
| 25438 | 7a | Martinsburg E Wv Rgnl AP, WV | 13.5 km |
| 25442 | 7a | Sharpsburg 5 S, MD | 10.0 km |
| 25443 | 7a | Sharpsburg 5 S, MD | 9.2 km |
| 25446 | 7a | Winchester 7 SE, VA | 15.1 km |
ZIP-code positions are area centroids, so a large rural ZIP code's listed distance is measured from the middle of its area rather than from any particular address in it.
Your own ZIP
Work out your own dates
Each of these takes a ZIP code and answers for that ZIP alone, citing the station it used and how far away it is. There is a ZIP box in the header of every page.
-
What survives my winter?
Runs on the hardiness zone, so it answers for all of Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at once — zone across 74 perennial fruits, berries, vegetables and herbs.
- When do I start my seeds?
Dates every spring job from your own last freeze — sow indoors, set out, direct sow.
- When do I sow the next round?
How often each crop is worth re-sowing, and when the next sowing is due.
- What can I still plant?
Counts the growing days left before your first fall freeze, crop by crop.
Other places to compare
These metros span exactly the same zones — 7a–8a — so the same plants are in and out of range across them. The freeze dates and the spring calendar are their own.
Gardening in District of Columbia — zones 7b– 8a covers the whole state: how its 54 ZIP codes divide between 2 hardiness zones, and the freeze dates across every NOAA station in it.
Gear
If you want to act on this
Each link opens an Amazon search rather than a product we picked. We have not tested these and do not rank them — the search is the honest version, and you choose.
- Row cover and frost clothThe season here closes at the first fall freeze dated above — a cover buys back some of those days at the end.
- MulchFor the perennials nearest their cold limit in zone 7a, where an insulated crown is what decides whether they come back.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. That costs you nothing extra, and it buys no influence over anything on this site: the dates come from NOAA normals and the zones from the USDA, and no product affects either.
Sources
Where these numbers come from
The hardiness zone is the USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map, published per ZIP code by PRISM at Oregon State. The freeze dates are NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals, read from every station whose normals cover a ZIP code in this metro. Nothing here is estimated, and no station stands in for another.
This page names no single station on purpose. Picking one to represent a metro sounds reasonable and is not: the station serving the most ZIP codes is an artifact of where ZIP centroids happen to fall, and it selects a lock on the Monongahela for Pittsburgh and a far southern suburb for Chicago. A range across every station is true; a single cited date for a whole metro is not.