USDA hardiness zone lookup
Washington (Downtown) (20005) — USDA Zone 7b
Washington (Downtown), District of Columbia · 212-day growing season
Frost dates and growing season for 20005
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 7b |
|---|---|
| Average last spring frost | April 7 |
| Average first fall frost | November 5 |
| Growing season length | ~212 days |
| Temperature range (F) | 0 to 10°F |
| Temperature range (C) | -18 to -12°C |
These are 50%-probability averages modeled from this ZIP's USDA hardiness zone and regional climate normals — not a single-station reading. In a typical year the last spring frost will have passed by April 7, but in a colder-than-average year it can run 1-2 weeks later. Plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) once both soil and night temperatures are consistently warm — a thermometer beats the calendar.
Growing season in Washington (Downtown)
Washington (Downtown), District of Columbia sits in USDA Zone 7b, with roughly 212 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around April 7 and a first fall frost around November 5. That is a long season — succession-sow through summer and run a full fall crop; heat-sensitive greens still need spring/autumn timing.
What grows in Washington (Downtown)
Washington (Downtown) falls in USDA Zone 7b, which means the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 7 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 7b (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.
- Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
- Okra
- Sweet potatoes
- Squash, melons
- Beans (lima + pole)
- Figs
- Pomegranates (in protected spots)
- Apples, peaches, plums, pears
- Blueberries (rabbiteye + highbush)
- Asparagus, rhubarb
What to plant in Washington (Downtown) this week
Washington (Downtown)'s last frost is around April 7. This is the spring transplant window — start tomatoes and peppers indoors if you haven't, and direct-sow cold-tolerant crops now.
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 7
- When to plant peppers in zone 7
- When to plant basil in zone 7
- When to plant bush beans in zone 7
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 7
Full planting calendar for Washington (Downtown)
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 7 averages:
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 7
- When to plant peppers in zone 7
- When to plant basil in zone 7
- When to plant garlic in zone 7
- When to plant lettuce in zone 7
- When to plant bush beans in zone 7
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 7
- When to plant summer squash in zone 7
- When to plant peas in zone 7
- When to plant carrots in zone 7
Local microclimate notes
Zone tables give you the average — but Washington (Downtown)gardens vary. South-facing walls and paved areas can run a full half-zone warmer than the published rating. Low-lying spots, frost pockets, and shaded north sides can run colder. If you've gardened here a few seasons, your own frost record (the last time you actually got frost damage) is more accurate than any national average.
Source and methodology
Hardiness zone from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Frost-date and growing-season figures are modeled from this ZIP's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — they are zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations are drawn from US Cooperative Extension references and curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed May 2026.
Nearby ZIP codes in District of Columbia
- 20001 — Washington (Zone 7b)
- 20020 — Washington (SE) (Zone 7b)
- 20002 — Washington (NE) (Zone 7b)
- 20009 — Washington (Dupont/Adams Morgan) (Zone 8a)
- 20011 — Washington (Petworth) (Zone 7b)
- 20019 — Washington (Deanwood) (Zone 7b)
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