Ocean City, MD 21842 Frost Dates
When can you plant in Ocean City, MD?
The last spring frost here typically falls around 04/07, about 222 days from today. The first fall frost typically arrives around 11/02, about 209 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts Ocean City in Zone 8a (10 to 15°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 9 weeks of growing season left in Ocean City before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
How much risk comes with planting early here
04/07 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 03/24 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 04/23 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How Ocean City compares
Ocean City's growing season runs about 209 days, ranking 15,189 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within MD, it ranks 340 of 583.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 8a and Ocean City's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around Ocean City's dates instead of trusting one.