Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Chevy Chase, MD
Plan your garden around Chevy Chase, MD's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
April 9
Safe Apr 26
Typical Apr 9
Risky Mar 27
First Fall Frost
October 31
Safe Oct 16
Typical Oct 31
Risky Nov 13
Growing Season
202 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 7b
Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.
Data: NOAA station DALECARLIA RSVR, MD US, 8 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 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 29 – Feb 12 | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | — | 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 29 – Feb 12 | — | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Mar 12 – Mar 19 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 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 19 – Mar 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 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 | Mar 12 – Mar 19 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | — | — | 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 | Mar 12 – Mar 19 | — | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Mar 12 – Mar 19 | — | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | — | — | 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 | — | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | Sep 5 – Sep 19 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Sep 5 – Sep 19 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | Aug 22 – Sep 5 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | Sep 19 – Sep 26 | 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 19 – Apr 2 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | Aug 29 – Sep 5 | 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 19 – Mar 5 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | Aug 22 – Aug 29 | 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 19 – Mar 5 | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | 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 | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | Aug 8 – Aug 22 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | Aug 22 – Sep 5 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | — | Sep 19 – Oct 3 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | Aug 22 – Sep 5 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | 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 3 – Oct 17 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | — | 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 23 – May 7 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | 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. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | — | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 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 19 – Apr 2 | — | Sep 5 – Sep 19 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 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 19 – Apr 2 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Mar 12 – Mar 19 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 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 26 – Mar 12 | — | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Mar 12 – Mar 19 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | — | 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 Chevy Chase, MD?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the DALECARLIA RSVR, MD US station, the last spring frost in Chevy Chase typically falls around April 9. A cautious gardener might wait until April 26 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while March 27 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Chevy Chase, MD in fall?
The first fall frost in Chevy Chase typically arrives around October 31. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 16; in milder years it can hold off until November 13.
How long is the growing season in Chevy Chase, MD?
Chevy Chase's average frost-free growing season is about 202 days, running from the typical last spring frost (April 9) to the typical first fall frost (October 31).
What USDA hardiness zone is Chevy Chase, MD in?
Chevy Chase, MD is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.