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

Planting zone for Takoma Park, MD

Takoma Park, MD is in USDA zone 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 8.

Takoma Park 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 29
First frostNov 8
Growing season224 days

7b 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 Takoma Park, MD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 8median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season224 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Natl Arboretum Dc, MD, elevation 49 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 Takoma Park

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 13 – Sep 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 25 – Nov 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 8) 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 20912 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 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 Takoma Park, MD.

Soil in Takoma Park, MD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 20912 is Gaila — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Gaila silt loam, 8 to 15 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 20912; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Takoma Park, MD

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days48days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights84nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,518base 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
Precipitation48 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 JanFebruary: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 FebMarch: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Natl Arboretum Dc, MD (5 mi away); precipitation: Takoma Park 0.6 Nnw, MD (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Takoma Park

209127b
5 to 10 °F
209137b
5 to 10 °F

Maryland planting zones →

Questions about Takoma Park

What planting zone is Takoma Park, MD?

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

When is the last frost in Takoma Park, MD?

The median last spring frost is March 29 and the median first fall frost is November 8 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Natl Arboretum Dc station).

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

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 15 – Mar 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 5, once frost risk has passed.

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

About 48 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).