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

Delaware planting zones

Delaware spans USDA zones 7a to 8a on the 2023 map; the most common is 7b. The typical last spring frost is around Apr 7 and the first fall frost around Nov 4.

Zone map of Delaware

Outside Delaware is dimmed · 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.

ZIP codes per zone

7a0 to 5 °F17b5 to 10 °F888a10 to 15 °F4

At a glance

ZIP codes93
Zones7a–8a
Typical last frostApr 7
Typical first frostNov 4

Largest cities in Delaware

Wilmington7b
Last frost Apr 7 · first Nov 4 · 25 ZIPs
Newark7b
Last frost Apr 7 · first Nov 2 · 10 ZIPs
Dover7b
Last frost Apr 4 · first Nov 4 · 5 ZIPs
New Castle7b
Last frost Apr 7 · first Nov 1 · 3 ZIPs

Delaware extremes

From the 2023 zone data and NOAA 1991–2020 normals of the nearest station. One entry per town.

Mildest winters

highest zone

  1. Bethany Beach 199308a
  2. Fenwick Island 199448a
  3. Ocean View 199708a
  4. Rehoboth Beach 199718a
  5. Bear 197017b
  6. Newark 197027b

Coldest winters

lowest zone

  1. Hockessin 197077a
  2. Bear 197017b
  3. Newark 197027b
  4. Claymont 197037b
  5. Delaware City 197067b
  6. Kirkwood 197087b

Longest growing season

median frost-free days

  1. Bethany Beach 19930231 d
  2. Lewes 19958231 d
  3. Milton 19968231 d
  4. Nassau 19969231 d
  5. Ocean View 19970231 d
  6. Rehoboth Beach 19971231 d

Shortest growing season

median frost-free days

  1. Hockessin 19707189 d
  2. Bridgeville 19933200 d
  3. Greenwood 19950200 d
  4. Harrington 19952200 d
  5. Houston 19954200 d
  6. Lincoln 19960200 d

Wettest

precipitation per year

  1. Bethany Beach 1993052.8 in
  2. Dagsboro 1993952.8 in
  3. Fenwick Island 1994452.8 in
  4. Frankford 1994552.8 in
  5. Millville 1996752.8 in
  6. Ocean View 1997052.8 in

Snowiest

snowfall per year

  1. Delaware City 1970620 in
  2. Newark 1971220 in
  3. New Castle 1972020 in
  4. Port Penn 1973120 in
  5. Wilmington 1985020 in
  6. Townsend 1973413 in

Hottest summers

days at 90 °F or more

  1. Bear 1970133 d
  2. Newark 1970233 d
  3. Kirkwood 1970833 d
  4. Middletown 1970933 d
  5. Bethel 1993131 d
  6. Dagsboro 1993931 d

All places in Delaware

B

Bear · Bethany Beach · Bethel · Bridgeville

C

Camden Wyoming · Cheswold · Claymont · Clayton

D

Dagsboro · Delaware City · Delmar · Dover · Dover Afb

E

Ellendale

F

Felton · Fenwick Island · Frankford · Frederica

G

Georgetown · Greenwood

H

Harbeson · Harrington · Hartly · Hockessin · Houston

K

Kenton · Kirkwood

L

Laurel · Lewes · Lincoln · Little Creek

M

Magnolia · Marydel · Middletown · Milford · Millsboro · Millville · Milton · Montchanin

N

Nassau · New Castle · Newark

O

Ocean View · Odessa

P

Port Penn

R

Rehoboth Beach · Rockland

S

Seaford · Selbyville · Smyrna

T

Townsend

V

Viola

W

Wilmington · Winterthur

Questions

What planting zones are in Delaware?

Delaware spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8a on the 2023 map. The most common zone is 7b (88 of 93 ZIP codes).

When is the last frost in Delaware?

Across Delaware, the median last spring frost ranges from about Mar 29 to Apr 19 depending on location; the typical ZIP code sees it around Apr 7. Look up your ZIP code for a local date.