Calendars by city / DC
Washington, D.C. (Reagan National) vegetable planting calendar
Planting windows for Washington, D.C. (Reagan National) built from the NOAA 1991–2020 freeze normals at WASHINGTON REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, VA US (station USW00013743), not from a hardiness zone.
Washington, D.C. (Reagan National) planting dates for 27 vegetables
The same windows as a table
Each row applies a published extension rule to the frost dates above. Hardy crops go out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; semi-hardy crops 0–2 weeks before; tender crops around the frost date; very tender crops 2 or more weeks after. The last fall planting date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost. The rules and their sources are on the methodology page.
| Crop | Frost class | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Last fall planting | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beets | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Sep 25 | 60 |
| Broccoli | Hardy | Jan 10 – Feb 7 | Transplant: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Sep 27 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Cabbage | Hardy | Jan 10 – Feb 7 | Transplant: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Sep 7 | 85 (from transplant) |
| Carrots | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Sep 15 | 70 |
| Cauliflower | Semi-hardy | Jan 24 – Feb 21 | Transplant: Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Sep 20 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Oct 12 | 50 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Oct 2 | 60 |
| Onions (green) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Oct 2 | 60 |
| Onions (dry, from seed) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Aug 13 | 110 |
| Onions (dry, from sets) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant sets: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Aug 13 | 110 |
| Parsnips | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Sep 15 | 70 |
| Peas | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Sep 27 | 65 |
| Potatoes | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant seed potatoes: Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Jul 22 | 125 |
| Radishes | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Nov 1 | 30 |
| Spinach | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Oct 22 | 40 |
| Swiss chard | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Sep 25 | 60 |
| Turnips | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Oct 12 | 50 |
| Snap beans | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 28 – Apr 4 | Sep 18 | 60 |
| Cantaloupe | Very tender | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Aug 24 | 85 |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 28 – Apr 4 | Aug 19 | 60–90 |
| Cucumbers | Tender | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | Direct sow (or transplant): Mar 28 – Apr 4 | Sep 23 | 55 |
| Eggplant | Very tender | Feb 7 – Mar 14 | Transplant: Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Sep 18 | 60 (from transplant) |
| Peppers | Very tender | Feb 14 – Mar 14 | Transplant: Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Sep 8 | 70 (from transplant) |
| Tomatoes | Very tender | Feb 21 – Mar 21 | Transplant: Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Sep 13 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Summer squash | Tender | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | Direct sow (or transplant): Mar 28 – Apr 4 | Sep 28 | 50 |
| Winter squash | Very tender | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Aug 9 | 100 |
| Watermelon | Very tender | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Aug 24 | 85 |
What the Washington, D.C. (Reagan National) frost-free season means for your choices
At 234 frost-free days, Washington, D.C. (Reagan National) gardeners should compare that number to the days-to-harvest column before buying seed. A crop whose days to harvest plus its transplant age is close to the season length needs either an early start indoors or a short-season variety.
- Hardy crops (peas, spinach, radishes, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage) can go in from about Feb 28 – Mar 14 and again for fall.
- Very tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, winter squash) should wait until Apr 11 – Apr 25; start tomato seeds indoors Feb 21 – Mar 21.
- Fall sowing is worthwhile only for the rows that show a separate fall date; for the others the spring window already covers the season.
Washington, DC planting questions
When is the last frost in Washington, D.C. (Reagan National)?
The 50% probability date for the last spring 32°F reading at WASHINGTON REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, VA US is Mar 28, from the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. In half the years on that record the last frost came later than that date, so tender crops are safer a week or two after it. The last 28°F hard freeze averages Mar 16.
When can I plant tomatoes in Washington, D.C. (Reagan National)?
Tomatoes are a very tender crop, so the Colorado State Extension rule puts them out 2 or more weeks after the last spring frost: Apr 11 – Apr 25 in Washington, D.C. (Reagan National). Start the seeds indoors Feb 21 – Mar 21, which is 5 to 7 weeks before that transplant window.
How long is the growing season in Washington, D.C. (Reagan National)?
Washington, D.C. (Reagan National) averages 234 frost-free days, between the 50% last spring frost on Mar 28 and the 50% first fall frost on Nov 17 at WASHINGTON REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, VA US. Check a variety's days to harvest against that number before buying seed.
When should I start seeds indoors in Washington, D.C. (Reagan National)?
The earliest indoor sowing on this calendar is broccoli and cabbage at Jan 10 – Feb 7. Hardy crops are transplanted out Feb 28 – Mar 14 here, and each crop's indoor window is simply its outdoor window minus the transplant age published by Colorado State Extension, so nothing starts earlier than that.
What can I plant in fall in Washington, D.C. (Reagan National)?
The crops with a separate fall sowing here, latest first, are radishes, spinach, kohlrabi, turnips, lettuce (leaf) and onions (green), plus 21 more on the chart above. Each fall date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost on Nov 17, plus an allowance for frost-tolerant crops that is our own assumption, not the source's.
Station data and limitations
| NOAA station | WASHINGTON REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, VA US (USW00013743) |
|---|---|
| Location | 38.8472, -77.03454 · elevation 3 m |
| Last spring 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Mar 28 / Mar 16 |
| First fall 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Nov 17 / Dec 1 |
| Dataset | NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal product, data types ANN-TMIN-PRBLST/PRBFST-T32FP50 and T28FP50 |
| Retrieved | 2026-10-16 |
The normals describe the airport station, not your yard. They are averages of a 30-year record and say nothing about this year's weather. Watch the local forecast around the dates shown, and use soil temperature for warm-season crops, which the Colorado State guide treats as the better signal.
Nearby calendars
- Richmond, Virginia — last spring frost Apr 4
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — last spring frost Apr 2
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — last spring frost Apr 24
- New York City (Central Park), New York — last spring frost Apr 1
Read the method behind these dates: last frost date vs hardiness zone.