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

Planting zone for College Park, MD

College Park, MD is in USDA zone 7b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost November 1.

College Park on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostApr 10
First frostNov 1
Growing season202 days

7b 3 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 College Park, MD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season202 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Beltsville, MD, elevation 144 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 College Park

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 20742 came on Mar 11 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15).

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 7b in Maryland

618 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maryland, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 83

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 127

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 206

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 176

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 College Park, MD.

Soil in College Park, MD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 20742 is Zekiah — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5.2%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Zekiah and Issue soils, frequently flooded.

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 20742; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in College Park, MD

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days30days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights95nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,927base 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
Precipitation44 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 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.87 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 2.9❄6 JanFebruary: 2.40 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 2.4❄5 FebMarch: 3.72 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 3.7❄3 MarApril: 3.28 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.3 AprMay: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 2.92 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.9 NovDecember: 3.48 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 3.5❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Beltsville, MD (2 mi away); precipitation: Beltsville, MD (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in College Park

207407b
5 to 10 °F
207417b
5 to 10 °F
207427b
5 to 10 °F

Maryland planting zones →

Questions about College Park

What planting zone is College Park, MD?

College Park, MD is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in College Park, MD?

The median last spring frost is April 10 and the median first fall frost is November 1 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beltsville station).

When can I plant a garden in College Park, MD?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 27 – Mar 20; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 17, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in College Park, 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 College Park, MD get?

About 44 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).