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

Planting zone for 21531 — Friendsville, MD

ZIP code 21531 (Friendsville, Garrett County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 21531 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 9
First frostOct 11
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Friendsville, 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 Friendsville, MD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Sines Deep Creek, MD — 8 miles away, elevation 2,041 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 21531

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 21531 came on Mar 15 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 6a in Maryland

571 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Maryland, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

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 119

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 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 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 193

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 159

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 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high 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 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Friendsville, MD.

Soil in Friendsville, MD

The center of ZIP 21531 is mapped as Stony land, steep: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 21531; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Friendsville, MD

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,115base 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
Precipitation47.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall61 inper year; 62 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 17 °F 34°17° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 18 °F 38°18° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 24 °F 47°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.61 in precipitation, 18.3 in snowfall 3.6❄18 JanFebruary: 3.41 in precipitation, 16.9 in snowfall 3.4❄17 FebMarch: 3.90 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 3.9❄10 MarApril: 4.04 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.0❄1 AprMay: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.35 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.4 OctNovember: 3.07 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 3.1❄4 NovDecember: 3.52 in precipitation, 10.9 in snowfall 3.5❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sines Deep Creek, MD (8 mi away); precipitation: Confluence 1 Sw Dam, PA (11 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.

215206a
Accident, MD · 6 mi
215416a
Mc Henry, MD · 7 mi
154116a
Addison, PA · 8 mi
154596a
Markleysburg, PA · 9 mi
265256a
Bruceton Mills, WV · 11 mi
265196b
Albright, WV · 12 mi
154856a
Ursina, PA · 13 mi
154406a
Gibbon Glade, PA · 13 mi

Maryland planting zones →

Questions about 21531

What planting zone is ZIP code 21531?

ZIP code 21531 (Friendsville, MD) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Friendsville, MD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 21531 is May 9; after May 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sines Deep Creek station.

When is the first frost in Friendsville, MD?

The median first fall frost near 21531 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 155 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 21531?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 21531 get?

About 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 61 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Confluence 1 Sw Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Friendsville, MD?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Friendsville, MD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 21531 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Friendsville, MD?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 21531 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.