Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 21679 (Talbot County, 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, Stevensville 2SW, MD (14 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)228 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 (41 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 (41 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 21679 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 14 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 12: 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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 29 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 8 |
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) | Oct 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 12 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 29 |
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 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 18 | Nov 25 |
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 21679
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 12). 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 | Feb 1–15 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 1–15 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 1–15 | Mar 8–29 (transplant) Mar 1–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–29 (transplant) Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 1–8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 1–8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 1–8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 1–8 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 1–8 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 4–18 | Apr 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (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: Stevensville 2SW, MD (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00188557), elevation 10 ft, 13.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Oak 2 SSW, MD | 15 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 7 |
| Annapolis Naf, MD | 21 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 20 |
| Chestertown, MD | 21 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 21679
When is the last frost in 21679?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 21679 is March 29. For a more cautious planting date, use April 8, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 21679?
The average first fall freeze is November 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 21679?
ZIP 21679 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 21679 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
21658 Queenstown 21657 Queen Anne 21638 Grasonville 21625 Cordova 21641 Hillsboro 21601 Easton 21617 Centreville 21619 Chester
Other ZIP codes in Talbot County
21601 21612 21624 21625 21647 21652 21653 21654 21662 21663 21665 21671 21673 21676 All Talbot County frost dates · Maryland frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.