When is the last frost in Washington, DC?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Washington is March 24, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until April 6.

When is the first frost in Washington?

The average first fall frost in Washington is November 18, with a growing season of about 241 days.

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Washington, District of Columbia frost dates

Average last spring frost: March 24. Average first fall frost: November 18. That gives a growing season of about 241 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is April 6, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Mar 24

1-in-10 risk after Apr 6

First frost (50%)

Nov 18

1-in-10 risk before Nov 5

Growing season

241 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Mar 12

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	March 7	December 6
70%	March 17	November 25
50%	March 24	November 18
30%	March 30	November 12
10%	April 6	November 5

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after April 6. These are NOAA probabilities for the Washington Reagan Airport weather station (USW00013743, elevation 3 m), 1991–2020.

Washington vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (March 24). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (Apr 6) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Mar 3	Mar 31 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Jan 13	Feb 24
Brussels sprouts	Jan 13	Feb 24
Cabbage	Jan 6	Feb 17
Cauliflower	Jan 27	Mar 10
Sweet corn	Feb 24	Mar 24 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Mar 10	Mar 31
Kale	Jan 6	Feb 17
Leeks	Dec 9	Feb 17
Lettuce	Feb 3	Mar 10
Melons	Mar 17	Apr 7
Onions	Dec 2	Feb 10 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Jan 27	Feb 24 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Feb 10	Apr 7
Squash	Mar 17	Apr 7
Tomatoes	Jan 27	Mar 24

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around November 18. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before November 5. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around December 3.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Baltimore, MD	Apr 10	Oct 31	~47 km
Richmond, VA	Apr 3	Nov 4	~151 km
Harrisburg, PA	Apr 9	Nov 2	~151 km
Philadelphia, PA	Apr 2	Nov 10	~193 km
Virginia Beach, VA	Mar 17	Nov 23	~228 km
Allentown, PA	Apr 20	Oct 24	~242 km

More: all District of Columbia frost dates