Bowie, Maryland planting calendar and frost dates
Bowie is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 10 and the first fall frost around October 31, giving about 204 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 10
- Typical first frost
- October 31
- Frost-free season
- 204 days
Frost dates in Bowie
Last spring frost
- March 27Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 25Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 17Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 31Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 12Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 204 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 28 and returns around November 10.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Baltimore Wash International Airport, 12.8 miles NNE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Bowie
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Bowie
Bowie's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 9 in 20716 to April 10 in 20720. The hardiness zone is 7a in 20715, and 7b in 20716, 20720, 20721, 20774.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20715 | 7a | Baltimore Wash International Airport, 12.8 mi NNE | Apr 10 | Oct 31 |
| 20716 | 7b | Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, 5.9 mi SSW | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
| 20720 | 7b | Beltsville, 8.3 mi WNW | Apr 10 | Nov 1 |
| 20721 | 7b | Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, 4.5 mi SSE | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
| 20774 | 7b | Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, 1.7 mi S | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Bowie
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 6 to 20 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 13 to 27 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 1 to Sep 5 |
| Cilantro | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Mar 13 to 27 | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 2 to 9 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
| Onions | Dec 19 to Jan 30 | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 3 to 17 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 3 to 17 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 13 to Mar 13 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 20 to Apr 10 | Aug 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 19 to 26 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 3 to 17 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 23 to Feb 13 | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Peas | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Feb 27 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 22 to Sep 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | — |
| Zinnias | May 8 to 15 | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 19 to Nov 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 19 to Oct 31 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
Nearby cities
- Alexandria, VA zone 7b, last frost Mar 24
- Rockville, MD zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- Baltimore, MD zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Gaithersburg, MD zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Frederick, MD zone 7a, last frost Apr 2
- Lancaster, PA zone 7a, last frost Apr 19
Planting in MarylandAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Bowie
Questions
When is the last frost in Bowie?
Around April 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Baltimore Wash International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 25.
What planting zone is Bowie in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bowie?
Start seeds indoors March 6 to 20 and set plants out May 1 to 15.
When is the first frost in Bowie?
Around October 31 in a typical year, and before October 17 about 1 year in 10.