Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point, MD planting zone & frost dates
Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost usually comes around March 22 and the first fall frost around November 26, for a growing season of about 248 days.
Planting calendar for Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 22) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 Transplant outdoors: Mar 29 – Apr 5 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 11 – Jan 25 Transplant outdoors: Apr 5 – Apr 12 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 11 – Jan 25 Transplant outdoors: Apr 5 – Apr 12 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 11 – Jan 25 Transplant outdoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 11 – Jan 25 Transplant outdoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 8 – Feb 22 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 8 – Feb 22 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Mar 29 – Apr 5 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 29 – Apr 5 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Mar 29 – Apr 5 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Mar 29 – Apr 5 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 8 – Feb 22 Transplant outdoors: Mar 29 – Apr 5 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 1 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 26).
Useful for zone 8a gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Mar 6 | Mar 22 | Apr 5 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Dec 12 | Nov 26 | Nov 10 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 5, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 10.
Nearby cities
- Chesapeake Ranch Estates zone 8a, last frost Mar 22
- Lexington Park zone 8a, last frost Mar 29
- California zone 7b, last frost Mar 22
- Cambridge zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Easton zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Rosaryville zone 7b, last frost Apr 9
- St. Charles zone 7b, last frost Apr 17
- Saint Charles zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
Questions
What growing zone is Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point, MD?
Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a (average extreme winter low 10°F to 15°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point is March 22. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 5.
When can I plant tomatoes in Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Mar 29 – Apr 5. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Solomons, MD (USC00188405), 4.5 km (2.8 mi) from the city center, elevation 4 m, based on 13 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.