When to plant in Washington, D.C.
Most of Washington, D.C. sees its last spring frost between Mar 24 and Mar 29, and its first fall frost between Nov 8 and Nov 18. The middle of the state is around March 29 and November 8: that's what the dates below use.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jun 21 – Sep 13 | — |
| Pepper | Feb 8 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jun 26 – Sep 18 | — |
| Cucumber | — | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jun 6 – Jul 25 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jun 1 – Aug 10 | — |
| Winter squash | — | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jul 16 – Aug 20 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Jun 5 – Jul 17 | — |
| Peas | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 16 – May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 2 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Jun 25 – Jul 23 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Sep 10 – Sep 24 |
| Spinach | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 27 – May 8 | Sep 29 – Oct 13 |
| Kale | Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Apr 25 – Jul 18 | Sep 28 – Oct 12 |
| Broccoli | Jan 25 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 7 – Jun 11 | Sep 2 – Sep 16 |
| Cabbage | Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | May 10 – Jun 14 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 17 – Jun 28 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Beet | — | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 2 – Jun 13 | Sep 7 – Sep 21 |
| Radish | — | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Mar 19 – Apr 16 | Sep 30 – Oct 14 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Jun 2 – Jul 7 | — |
| Garlic | — | Nov 1 – Nov 22 (fall) | May 25 – Jun 15 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Jun 6 – Jul 11 | — |
| Sweet potato | Mar 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jul 28 – Aug 25 | — |
| Watermelon | — | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jul 13 – Aug 17 | — |
| Basil | Mar 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | May 12 – Aug 18 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Apr 26 – May 24 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Jun 30 – Aug 4 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Washington, D.C.. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Washington, D.C.
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 8a | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.