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

Planting zone for 20022 — Washington, DC

ZIP code 20022 (Washington, District of Columbia County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 31.

Where ZIP 20022 is

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
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 9
First frostOct 31
2012 zone7a

Was 7a on the 2012 map — a full zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Washington, DC…

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 Washington, DC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season202 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD — 4 miles away, elevation 151 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 20022

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 20022 came on Mar 11 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 12).

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 District of Columbia

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

Trees 59

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 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °F

Shrubs 80

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 144

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water plantain0.5 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 123

arctic 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 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblunt broom sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 9

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Washington, DC.

Soil in Washington, DC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 20022 is Sassafras — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sassafras-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 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 20022; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Washington, DC

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights96nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,035base 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 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°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 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° 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: Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD (4 mi away); precipitation: Takoma Park 0.6 Nnw, MD (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

205427b
Washington, DC · <1 mi
200107b
Washington, DC · <1 mi
200117b
Washington, DC · <1 mi
202528a
Washington, DC · 1 mi
203177b
Washington, DC · 1 mi
200087b
Washington, DC · 1 mi
204417b
Washington, DC · 1 mi
200097b
Washington, DC · 2 mi

All 266 ZIP codes in Washington → · District of Columbia planting zones →

Questions about 20022

What planting zone is ZIP code 20022?

ZIP code 20022 (Washington, DC) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Washington, DC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 20022 is April 9; after April 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dalecarlia Rsvr station.

When is the first frost in Washington, DC?

The median first fall frost near 20022 is October 31, giving a median frost-free growing season of 202 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 20022?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 20022 get?

About 48 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Takoma Park 0.6 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Washington, DC?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 44 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 20022 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sassafras at the center of ZIP 20022: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Washington, DC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 20022 came on Mar 11 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Washington, DC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 20022 is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 20022 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 20022 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.