Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Bowie, MD

Bowie, MD is in USDA zones 7a to 7b across its 7 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 22.

Bowie on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones7a–7b0 to 10 °F
ZIP codes7
Last frostApr 22
First frostOct 22
Growing season183 days

7a 2 ZIPs   7b 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Bowie, MD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 7 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD, elevation 151 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Bowie

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 22) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 20721 came on Mar 11 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 7a in Maryland

612 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maryland, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 82

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 126

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 203

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 175

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Bowie, MD.

Soil in Bowie, MD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 20721 is Collington — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.7strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.9%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Collington-Wist-Urban land complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 20721; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bowie, MD

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days39days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights112nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,762base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year; 14 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 22 °F 44°22° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.96 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 3.0❄6 JanFebruary: 2.66 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 2.7❄6 FebMarch: 3.92 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 3.9❄2 MarApril: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.55 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 3.5❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Glenn Dale Bell Stn, MD (4 mi away); precipitation: Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Bowie

207157a
0 to 5 °F
207167b
5 to 10 °F
207177b
5 to 10 °F
207187a
0 to 5 °F
207197b
5 to 10 °F
207207b
5 to 10 °F
207217b
5 to 10 °F

Maryland planting zones →

Questions about Bowie

What planting zone is Bowie, MD?

Bowie, MD is in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F; 7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Bowie, MD?

The median last spring frost is April 22 and the median first fall frost is October 22 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Glenn Dale Bell Stn station).

When can I plant a garden in Bowie, MD?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 11 – Apr 1; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 29, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Bowie, MD?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Bowie, MD get?

About 45 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).