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

Planting zone for 20693 — Welcome, MD

ZIP code 20693 (Welcome, Charles County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost November 8.

Where ZIP 20693 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 frostMar 28
First frostNov 8
2012 zone7a

Was 7a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Welcome, MD…

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 Welcome, MD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 8median — 10% chance by Oct 28
Growing season226 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 22.

From the NOAA station Quantico Mcas, VA — 12 miles away, elevation 10 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 20693

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
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 28) 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 20693 came on Mar 10 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8).

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 Welcome, MD.

Soil in Welcome, MD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 20693 is Mispillion — mucky peat, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter77%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mispillion and Transquaking soils, tidally flooded.

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 20693; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Welcome, MD

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days30days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights76nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,379base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 51 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
Precipitation46.9 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 47 °F 68°47° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 66 °F 84°66° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 71 °F 88°71° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 69 °F 86°69° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 62 °F 80°62° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 50 °F 69°50° 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″January: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Quantico Mcas, VA (12 mi away); precipitation: Port Tobacco Village 1.0 S, MD (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

206777b
Port Tobacco, MD · 4 mi
206437b
Ironsides, MD · 5 mi
206117b
Bel Alton, MD · 5 mi
206467b
La Plata, MD · 6 mi
206047b
Waldorf, MD · 7 mi
206627b
Nanjemoy, MD · 7 mi
206327b
Faulkner, MD · 8 mi
206407b
Indian Head, MD · 8 mi

Maryland planting zones →

Questions about 20693

What planting zone is ZIP code 20693?

ZIP code 20693 (Welcome, MD) 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 Welcome, MD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 20693 is March 28; after April 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Quantico Mcas station.

When is the first frost in Welcome, MD?

The median first fall frost near 20693 is November 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 226 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 20693?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 31 – Feb 14 and set transplants outside around Apr 4 – Apr 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 20693 get?

About 46.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Port Tobacco Village 1.0 S station).

How hot do summers get in Welcome, MD?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 30 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 20693 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mispillion at the center of ZIP 20693: mucky peat, very poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Welcome, MD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 20693 came on Mar 10 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Welcome, MD?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 20693 is 14 h 51 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 20693 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 20693 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.