Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 20736 — Owings, MD

ZIP code 20736 (Owings, Calvert County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 20736 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 9

First frostOct 29

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 Owings, 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 Owings, MD

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 24only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 14

Growing season203 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 10.

From the NOAA station Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD — 14 miles away, elevation 131 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 20736

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 3 – Sep 17

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 20736 came on Mar 11 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

average
Mar 102026
Mar 11

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.

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 Owings, MD.

Soil in Owings, MD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 20736 is Downer — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding

pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter1.25%low — add compost

Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Downer-Woodstown complex, 15 to 25 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 20736; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Owings, MD

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July

Winter low25 °Faverage low, January

Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights103nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days3,960base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 53 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 27 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully

Precipitation47.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw, MD (14 mi away); precipitation: Huntingtown 2.9 Nnw, MD (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

206897b

Sunderland, MD · 2 mi

207587b

Friendship, MD · 3 mi

207547b

Dunkirk, MD · 4 mi

207148a

North Beach, MD · 5 mi

207328a

Chesapeake Beach, MD · 5 mi

207798a

Tracys Landing, MD · 5 mi

206397b

Huntingtown, MD · 6 mi

207518a

Deale, MD · 8 mi

Maryland planting zones →

Questions about 20736

What planting zone is ZIP code 20736?

ZIP code 20736 (Owings, 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 Owings, MD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 20736 is April 9; after April 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Upper Marlboro 3 Nnw station.

When is the first frost in Owings, MD?

The median first fall frost near 20736 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 203 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 20736?

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 20736 get?

About 47.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Huntingtown 2.9 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Owings, MD?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 20736 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Downer at the center of ZIP 20736: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Owings, MD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 20736 came on Mar 11 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Owings, MD?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 20736 is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 20736 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 20736 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.