Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 21401 (Parole, MD)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Annapolis Police Brks, MD (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)234 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Powder Mill (16 mi).
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 58°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Powder Mill (16 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 21401 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 12 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 13: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 27 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 13 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 27 | Nov 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 14 | Nov 28 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 21401
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 27) and first fall frost (Nov 13). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 16–30 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 16–30 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 6–27 (transplant) Feb 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (transplant) Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 13–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 27 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 2–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 2–16 | Apr 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 13–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Annapolis Police Brks, MD (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00180193), elevation 25 ft, 2.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapolis Naf, MD | 5 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 20 |
| Stevensville 2SW, MD | 12 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| Glenn Dale Bell STN, MD | 14 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 30 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 21401
When is the last frost in 21401?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 21401 is March 27. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 21401?
The average first fall freeze is November 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 1.
What hardiness zone is 21401?
ZIP 21401 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 21401 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
21405 21140 Riva 21032 Crownsville 21402 Naval Academy 21403 Annapolis Neck 21037 Mayo 21012 Arnold 21035
Other ZIP codes in Anne Arundel County
20711 20714 20724 20733 20751 20755 20758 20764 20765 20776 20778 20779 21012 21032 21035 21037 21054 21056 21060 21061 21076 21077 21090 21108 All Anne Arundel County frost dates · Maryland frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.