Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Elkton, MD
Plan your garden around Elkton, 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 7
Safe Apr 21
Typical Apr 7
Risky Mar 26
First Fall Frost
November 2
Safe Oct 19
Typical Nov 2
Risky Nov 17
Growing Season
208 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 NEWARK AG FARM, DE US, 10.2 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 10 – Feb 24 | — | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | — | 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 27 – Feb 10 | — | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | — | 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 27 – Feb 10 | — | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Mar 10 – Mar 17 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | — | 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 17 – Mar 24 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | — | 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 10 – Mar 17 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | — | 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 14 – Apr 28 | — | — | 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 10 – Mar 17 | — | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Mar 10 – Mar 17 | — | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | — | 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 7 – Apr 21 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | Sep 7 – Sep 21 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | — | Sep 7 – Sep 21 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | Aug 24 – Sep 7 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | Sep 21 – Sep 28 | 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 17 – Mar 31 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | — | Mar 17 – Mar 24 | Aug 31 – Sep 7 | 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 17 – Mar 3 | — | Mar 24 – Mar 31 | Aug 24 – Aug 31 | 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 17 – Mar 3 | — | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | — | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | — | 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 10 – Mar 24 | — | Aug 10 – Aug 24 | 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 10 – Mar 24 | — | Aug 24 – Sep 7 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | — | Sep 21 – Oct 5 | 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 10 – Mar 24 | — | Aug 24 – Sep 7 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | — | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | 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 5 – Oct 19 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | — | 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 21 – May 5 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | 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 24 – Mar 3 | — | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | — | 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 17 – Mar 31 | — | Sep 7 – Sep 21 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | — | Mar 24 – Mar 31 | — | 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 17 – Mar 31 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | — | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | — | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | — | 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 14 – Apr 28 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Mar 10 – Mar 17 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | — | 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 24 – Mar 10 | — | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Mar 10 – Mar 17 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | — | 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 Elkton, MD?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the NEWARK AG FARM, DE US station, the last spring frost in Elkton typically falls around April 7. A cautious gardener might wait until April 21 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while March 26 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Elkton, MD in fall?
The first fall frost in Elkton typically arrives around November 2. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 19; in milder years it can hold off until November 17.
How long is the growing season in Elkton, MD?
Elkton's average frost-free growing season is about 208 days, running from the typical last spring frost (April 7) to the typical first fall frost (November 2).
What USDA hardiness zone is Elkton, MD in?
Elkton, 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.