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

Planting zone for 19945 — Frankford, DE

ZIP code 19945 (Frankford, Sussex County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost November 2.

Where ZIP 19945 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 7
First frostNov 2
2012 zone7b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Frankford, DE…

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 Frankford, DE

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 — 14 miles away, 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 19945

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 19945 came on Mar 11 — 4 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).

Soil in Frankford, DE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 19945 is Hurlock — loamy sand, poorly drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Hurlock loamy sand, 0 to 2 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 19945; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Frankford, DE

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 51 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 28 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52.8 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″2″4″6″January: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 MarApril: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 6.46 in precipitation 6.5 AugSeptember: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 OctNovember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ocean City Municipal Airport, MD (14 mi away); precipitation: Bishopville 3.1 E, MD (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

199757b
Selbyville, DE · 4 mi
199397b
Dagsboro, DE · 5 mi
218137b
Bishopville, MD · 6 mi
199667b
Millsboro, DE · 6 mi
199677b
Millville, DE · 7 mi
218727b
Whaleyville, MD · 7 mi
218627b
Showell, MD · 7 mi
199708a
Ocean View, DE · 8 mi

Delaware planting zones →

Questions about 19945

What planting zone is ZIP code 19945?

ZIP code 19945 (Frankford, DE) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Frankford, DE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 19945 is April 7; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ocean City Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Frankford, DE?

The median first fall frost near 19945 is November 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 209 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 19945?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 10 – Feb 24 and set transplants outside around Apr 14 – Apr 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 19945 get?

About 52.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bishopville 3.1 E station).

How hot do summers get in Frankford, DE?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 19945 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hurlock at the center of ZIP 19945: loamy sand, poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Frankford, DE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 19945 came on Mar 11 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Frankford, DE?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 19945 is 14 h 51 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.