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Baltimore, MD Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 8a · ZIP 21201 · elevation 6′ · NOAA & USDA data

Baltimore is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (winters can dip to 10 to 15°F), with a growing season of about 244 days between the average last spring frost (March 24) and first fall frost (November 21). The warmest month is July (avg high 90.1°F); the coldest is January (avg low 30°F). It averages 43.7″ of precipitation a year. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
8a
min temp 10 to 15°F
Last spring frost
March 24
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
November 21
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
244 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
July
avg high 90.1°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Baltimore

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD (1.2 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 43.7 30 36.9 3.1
February 46.8 31.9 39.4 2.8
March 55.2 38.7 46.9 3.9
April 66.8 48.2 57.5 3.6
May 75.9 58 67 3.4
June 85.4 67.7 76.6 3.4
July 90.1 72.9 81.5 4.7
August 87.3 71 79.1 4.4
September 80.4 64.5 72.5 4.5
October 68.8 52.6 60.7 3.5
November 57.6 42.6 50.1 3
December 48 34.6 41.3 3.7

What to plant when in Baltimore

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: February 10 · Transplant out: March 31
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: January 27 · Transplant out: April 7
CucumberswarmDirect sow: March 31
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: March 31
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: March 31
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: March 31
BasilwarmTransplant out: March 31
PeascoolSow (spring): February 17 · Sow (fall): September 26
SpinachcoolSow (spring): February 10 · Sow (fall): September 26
LettucecoolSow (spring): February 24 · Sow (fall): September 26
KalecoolTransplant (spring): March 3 · Sow (fall): September 12
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): March 10
CarrotscoolSow (spring): March 3 · Sow (fall): September 12
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): February 24
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: March 10
RadishescoolSow (spring): February 24 · Sow (fall): October 10

Dates are computed from Baltimore's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

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Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in Maryland

Annapolis, MDBowie, MDGaithersburg, MDRockville, MDFrederick, MDHagerstown, MD

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD, 1.2 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD, 1.2 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.