Frost dates by state › District of Columbia
District of Columbia frost dates
Average last spring and first fall frost dates for District of Columbia’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.
Reviewed October 2026
Across the 1 largest cities in District of Columbia, the average last spring frost is around Mar 29.
| City | Average last spring frost | Average first fall frost | Frost-free days | Hardiness zone | Weather station used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Mar 29 | Nov 8 | 224 | 8a | Natl Arboretum Dc, MD, 3 mi |
Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 1 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.
An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.
Planting dates for Washington
Timed from Washington’s average last frost of Mar 29, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 8 to Feb 22 | Apr 5 to Apr 12 |
| Peppers | Feb 1 to Feb 15 | Apr 12 |
| Lettuce | Jan 25 to Feb 1 | Mar 1 to Mar 8 |
| Broccoli | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Mar 1 to Mar 15 |
| Cucumbers | Mar 8 to Mar 15 | Apr 5 to Apr 12 |
| Basil | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 12 |
When to plant, for your garden
Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.
Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.
More about frost dates
How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors
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