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

Planting zone for 21528 — Eckhart Mines, MD

ZIP code 21528 (Eckhart Mines, Allegany County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 21528 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 18
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Eckhart Mines, 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 Eckhart Mines, MD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Frostburg 2, MD — 2 miles away, elevation 2,169 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 21528

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 21528 came on Mar 12 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 6b in Maryland

590 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 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 79

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 123

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 198

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 165

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 11

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 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Eckhart Mines, MD.

Soil in Eckhart Mines, MD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 21528 is Ernest — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ernest-Urban land 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 21528; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Eckhart Mines, MD

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights132nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,508base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 22 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall72 inper year; 70 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 19 °F 34°19° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 31 °F 49°31° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 24 °F 38°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.36 in precipitation, 19 in snowfall 3.4❄19 JanFebruary: 3.03 in precipitation, 19 in snowfall 3.0❄19 FebMarch: 3.97 in precipitation, 14.9 in snowfall 4.0❄15 MarApril: 4.00 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 4.0❄2 AprMay: 5.18 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.25 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.3 OctNovember: 2.92 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 2.9❄4 NovDecember: 3.43 in precipitation, 13 in snowfall 3.4❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Frostburg 2, MD (2 mi away); precipitation: Frostburg 2, MD (2 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.

215436b
Midlothian, MD · 3 mi
215456b
Mount Savage, MD · 4 mi
215326a
Frostburg, MD · 4 mi
215426b
Midland, MD · 5 mi
215057a
Cumberland, MD · 5 mi
155646b
Wellersburg, PA · 6 mi
215567a
Pinto, MD · 6 mi
215247a
Corriganville, MD · 6 mi

Maryland planting zones →

Questions about 21528

What planting zone is ZIP code 21528?

ZIP code 21528 (Eckhart Mines, MD) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Eckhart Mines, MD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 21528 is April 29; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Frostburg 2 station.

When is the first frost in Eckhart Mines, MD?

The median first fall frost near 21528 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 171 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 21528?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 21528 get?

About 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 72 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Frostburg 2 station).

How hot do summers get in Eckhart Mines, MD?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 21528 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ernest at the center of ZIP 21528: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Eckhart Mines, MD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 21528 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Eckhart Mines, MD?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 21528 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.