Planting planner: Washington, District of Columbia
Typical last spring frost March 24 (1 spring in 10 later than April 6). Typical first fall frost November 18 (1 fall in 10 earlier than November 5). Growing season about 241 days.
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We don't give a garlic date here. The rule we use, from the University of Minnesota Extension, counts from the first killing frost, and it works where a hard freeze comes every year before the ground freezes. Your county's extension office can tell you when to plant garlic in your climate.
January
- January 6 to February 3: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)
- January 20 to February 17: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)
February
- February 3 to 24: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
- February 10 to 24: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
- February 17 to March 3: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)
- February 24 to March 10: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
- February 24 to March 10: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
March
- March 10 to 24: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
- March 10 to 24: Cauliflower (plant out)
- March 24: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
April
- April 7: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
- April 7: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)
May
Nothing to start this month.
June
- June 23 to July 7: Cabbage for fall (start seeds)
July
- July 13 to 27: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)
August
- August 22: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
- August 26: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
- August 27: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
- August 31: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
September
- September 1: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
- September 5: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)
- September 15: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
- September 25: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
October
- October 5: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)
November
- November 5: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)
December
Nothing to start this month.
Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Washington Reagan Airport (station USW00013743), 4 miles from the center of Washington. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/district-of-columbia/washington/