Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Bellevue, DC

The average first fall frost in Bellevue, DC is November 18, and the average last spring frost is March 24, giving a growing season of about 241 days.

Plan your garden around Bellevue, DC's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

March 24

Safe Apr 6 Typical Mar 24 Risky Mar 7

First Fall Frost

November 18

Safe Nov 5 Typical Nov 18 Risky Dec 6

Growing Season

241 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 8a

Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.

Data: NOAA station WASHINGTON REAGAN AP, VA US, 2.7 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Bellevue Compares

Bellevue's typical last spring frost (Mar 24) comes earlier than in 80% of the 35 District of Columbia cities we track.
Its 241-day growing season is 17 days longer than the District of Columbia median of 224 days.
Bellevue shares its NOAA weather station with Anacostia (5 km away), so their typical frost dates are the same.
July is the warmest month (average high 90°F) and January the coldest (average low 30°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	Mar 31 – Apr 7	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Mar 31 – Apr 14	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Apr 7 – Apr 14	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Feb 24 – Mar 3	Mar 31 – Apr 7	Mar 31 – Apr 7	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Mar 3 – Mar 10	Mar 31 – Apr 14	Mar 31 – Apr 7	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Feb 24 – Mar 3	Mar 31 – Apr 14	Mar 31 – Apr 7	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Mar 31 – Apr 14	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Feb 24 – Mar 3	—	Apr 7 – Apr 14	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Feb 24 – Mar 3	—	Apr 7 – Apr 14	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Mar 24 – Apr 7	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Mar 24 – Apr 7	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Feb 10 – Feb 24	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	Sep 23 – Oct 7	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Feb 10 – Feb 24	—	Sep 23 – Oct 7	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	Sep 9 – Sep 23	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	Oct 7 – Oct 14	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Mar 3 – Mar 17	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Mar 3 – Mar 10	Sep 16 – Sep 23	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Mar 10 – Mar 17	Sep 9 – Sep 16	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	Sep 9 – Sep 23	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Mar 3 – Mar 17	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	Aug 26 – Sep 9	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	Sep 9 – Sep 23	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Feb 17 – Mar 3	—	Oct 7 – Oct 21	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	Sep 9 – Sep 23	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Oct 21 – Nov 4	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	Apr 7 – Apr 21	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Feb 10 – Feb 17	—	Mar 31 – Apr 7	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Mar 3 – Mar 17	—	Sep 23 – Oct 7	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Mar 3 – Mar 17	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	Mar 24 – Mar 31	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	Mar 24 – Mar 31	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Mar 31 – Apr 14	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Feb 24 – Mar 3	Mar 31 – Apr 14	Mar 31 – Apr 7	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Feb 10 – Feb 24	—	Mar 31 – Apr 7	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Feb 24 – Mar 3	Mar 31 – Apr 14	Mar 31 – Apr 7	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Mar 31 – Apr 14	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Mar 31 – Apr 14	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Bellevue, DC?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the WASHINGTON REAGAN AP, VA US station, the last spring frost in Bellevue typically falls around March 24. A cautious gardener might wait until April 6 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while March 7 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Bellevue, DC in fall?

The first fall frost in Bellevue typically arrives around November 18. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 5; in milder years it can hold off until December 6.

How long is the growing season in Bellevue, DC?

Bellevue's average frost-free growing season is about 241 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 24) to the typical first fall frost (November 18).

What USDA hardiness zone is Bellevue, DC in?

Bellevue, DC is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.