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

Planting zone for 21550 — Oakland, MD

ZIP code 21550 (Oakland, Garrett County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 21550 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 6
First frostOct 9
2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Oakland, 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 Oakland, MD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Oakland 1 Se, MD — within 1 mile, elevation 2,421 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 21550

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 21550 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 Oakland, MD.

Soil in Oakland, MD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 21550 is Philo — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Philo silt loam.

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 21550; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Oakland, MD

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights145nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,691base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 57 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 23 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation50.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall105 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 18 °F 37°18° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.90 in precipitation, 30.2 in snowfall 3.9❄30 JanFebruary: 3.56 in precipitation, 22 in snowfall 3.6❄22 FebMarch: 4.32 in precipitation, 19.6 in snowfall 4.3❄20 MarApril: 4.33 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 4.3❄4 AprMay: 5.34 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 5.14 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.61 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.6❄2 OctNovember: 3.38 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 3.4❄6 NovDecember: 4.29 in precipitation, 21.4 in snowfall 4.3❄21 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Oakland 1 Se, MD (within 1 mile); precipitation: Oakland 1 Se, MD (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

267206a
Gormania, WV · 9 mi
215386a
Kitzmiller, MD · 9 mi
267646a
Terra Alta, WV · 10 mi
215416a
Mc Henry, MD · 10 mi
267056a
Aurora, WV · 11 mi
267176a
Elk Garden, WV · 12 mi
267166a
Eglon, WV · 12 mi
215616a
Swanton, MD · 13 mi

Maryland planting zones →

Questions about 21550

What planting zone is ZIP code 21550?

ZIP code 21550 (Oakland, 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 Oakland, MD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 21550 is May 6; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oakland 1 Se station.

When is the first frost in Oakland, MD?

The median first fall frost near 21550 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 21550?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 21550 get?

About 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 105 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oakland 1 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Oakland, MD?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 21550 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Philo at the center of ZIP 21550: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Oakland, MD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 21550 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 Oakland, MD?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 21550 is 14 h 57 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 21550 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 21550 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.