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

Planting zone for Ocean City, MD

Ocean City, MD is in USDA zone 8a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost November 2.

Ocean City on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 7
First frostNov 2
Growing season209 days

8a 2 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 Ocean City, MD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season209 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Ocean City Municipal Airport, MD, elevation 13 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 Ocean City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 7 – Sep 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 19 – Nov 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Nov 2) 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 21842 came on Mar 14 — 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7).

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 8a in Maryland

629 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maryland, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 84

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 129

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 209

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 181

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 Ocean City, MD.

Soil in Ocean City, MD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 21842 is Udorthents — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Udorthents, loamy, 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 21842; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ocean City, MD

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights81nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,739base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation42.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 44 °F 62°44° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 53 °F 70°53° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 63 °F 79°63° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 68 °F 84°68° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 67 °F 83°67° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 61 °F 77°61° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 49 °F 68°49° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 32 °F 50°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ocean City Municipal Airport, MD (4 mi away); precipitation: Ocean City Municipal Airport, MD (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Ocean City

218428a
10 to 15 °F
218438a
10 to 15 °F

Maryland planting zones →

Questions about Ocean City

What planting zone is Ocean City, MD?

Ocean City, MD is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Ocean City, MD?

The median last spring frost is April 7 and the median first fall frost is November 2 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ocean City Municipal Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Ocean City, MD?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 24 – Mar 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 14, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Ocean City, MD?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 50 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Ocean City, MD get?

About 42.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).