Frost Dates for Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Last spring frost April 6 · First fall frost November 5 · 213 frost-free days · USDA Zone 8a
ZIP 19971 has about 14,900 people.
Long season: 213 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans March 24–April 20 (27 days). Fall frost risk spans October 21–November 19 (29 days).
Frost probability for 19971
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | April 20 | April 6 | March 24 |
| Fall (first frost) | October 21 | November 5 | November 19 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at LEWES (11.5 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 213-day season in Rehoboth Beach
In Rehoboth Beach (213 frost-free days, a long season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 2 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 171 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 171 available after Apr 20. | Jul 6 |
| Pepper | Feb 23 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 171 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 171 available after Apr 20. | Jul 11 |
| Lettuce | Feb 9 | Mar 9–Mar 16 | 248 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 14; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 14 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 16–Mar 23 | 255 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 255 available after Mar 16. | Sep 3 |
| Cucumber | Mar 16 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 9 |
| Beans | — | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 16 |
| Peas | — | Feb 9–Apr 20 | 276 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 276 available after Feb 9. | Aug 25 |
| Zucchini | Mar 23 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 14 |
| Onion | Jan 12 | Mar 9–Mar 23 | 248 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 248 available after Mar 9. | — |
| Spinach | — | Feb 9–Mar 30 | 290 | two-plantings: Plant Feb 9 and again by Oct 3; both mature before Nov 26. | Oct 3 |
| Kale | Jan 26 | Mar 9–Mar 23 | 262 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 18; both mature before Nov 26. | Sep 18 |
| Broccoli | Feb 9 | Mar 9–Mar 23 | 248 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 248 available after Mar 9. | Aug 10 |
| Cabbage | Feb 9 | Mar 9–Mar 23 | 262 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 262 available after Mar 9. | Sep 3 |
| Radish | — | Feb 9–May 4 | 276 | two-plantings: Plant Feb 9 and again by Oct 4; both mature before Nov 12. | Oct 4 |
| Beets | — | Feb 9–May 4 | 276 | two-plantings: Plant Feb 9 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 4 |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 23–Mar 30 | 234 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 234 available after Mar 23. | — |
| Garlic | — | Nov 5 | 318 | overwinter: Plant Nov 5 to Nov 26; harvest the following summer. | Nov 26 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 2–Apr 27 | 269 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 2; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Mar 9 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 185 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 185 available after Apr 13. | Jul 18 |
| Pumpkin | Mar 23 | Apr 20–Apr 20 | 178 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 178 available after Apr 20. | Jun 23 |
| Cauliflower | Feb 23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 | 227 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 227 available after Mar 30. | Aug 15 |
| Swiss Chard | Feb 9 | Mar 23–Mar 23 | 234 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 23 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 4 |
| Arugula | — | Feb 9–May 4 | 290 | two-plantings: Plant Feb 9 and again by Oct 3; both mature before Nov 26. | Oct 3 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Feb 9 | Mar 9–Mar 23 | 262 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 262 available after Mar 9. | Aug 4 |
| Butternut Squash | Mar 23 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 178 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 178 available after Apr 20. | Jun 23 |
| Eggplant | Feb 16 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 171 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 171 available after Apr 20. | Jul 16 |
| Okra | Mar 9 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 192 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 14 |
| Basil | Mar 2 | Apr 27–Apr 27 | 178 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 9 |
| Cilantro | — | Mar 9–Mar 30 | 248 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 9; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 9 |
| Parsley | Jan 26 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 213 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 213 available after Apr 13. | Aug 20 |
| Celery | Jan 26 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 213 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 213 available after Apr 13. | Jul 1 |
| Scallions | Jan 26 | Mar 9–Mar 23 | 262 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 13; both mature before Nov 26. | Sep 13 |
| Turnip | — | Mar 9–Mar 23 | 262 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 23; both mature before Nov 26. | Sep 23 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Feb 23–Mar 9 | 276 | two-plantings: Plant Feb 23 and again by Sep 18; both mature before Nov 26. | Sep 18 |
| Bok Choy | Mar 9 | Mar 30–Apr 6 | 227 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Sep 14; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 14 |
| Collards | Jan 26 | Mar 9–Mar 23 | 262 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 13; both mature before Nov 26. | Sep 13 |
| Cantaloupe | Mar 23 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 171 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 171 available after Apr 20. | Jul 1 |
| Chives | Jan 12 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 227 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 227 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Dill | — | Feb 9–May 4 | 276 | two-plantings: Plant Feb 9 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 4 |
| Oregano | Jan 26 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 227 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 227 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Rosemary | Jan 12 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 213 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 213 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Sage | Feb 9 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 227 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 227 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Thyme | Jan 26 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 227 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 227 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Calendula | Feb 23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 | 234 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 23 and again by Sep 9; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 9 |
| Cosmos | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 9 |
| Lavender | Jan 12 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 234 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 234 available after Apr 6. | — |
| Marigolds | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 13 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 19 |
| Melons | Mar 23 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 171 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 171 available after Apr 20. | Jul 1 |
| Mint | — | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 234 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 234 available after Apr 6. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 13 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 14 |
| Pole Beans | — | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 192 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 192 available after Apr 13. | Aug 4 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Mar 23 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 178 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 178 available after Apr 20. | Jul 3 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 199 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 199 available after Apr 6. | Jul 30 |
| Tomatillos | Feb 9 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 178 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 178 available after Apr 13. | Jul 11 |
| Watermelon | Mar 23 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 178 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 178 available after Apr 13. | Jul 6 |
| Yellow Squash | Mar 23 | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 14 |
| Zinnias | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 9 |
Month by month in Rehoboth Beach
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Start indoors: Chives (Jan 12), Lavender (Jan 12), Onion (Jan 12), Rosemary (Jan 12), Celery (Jan 26), Collards (Jan 26), +5 more. |
| February | Start indoors: Broccoli (Feb 9), Brussel Sprouts (Feb 9), Cabbage (Feb 9), Lettuce (Feb 9), Sage (Feb 9), Swiss Chard (Feb 9), +6 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Feb 9), Beets (Feb 9), Dill (Feb 9), Peas (Feb 9), Radish (Feb 9), Spinach (Feb 9), +1 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Basil (Mar 2), Tomato (Mar 2), Bok Choy (Mar 9), Corn (Mar 9), Cosmos (Mar 9), Nasturtiums (Mar 9), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Mar 9), Turnip (Mar 9), Carrots (Mar 16), Potatoes (Mar 23). Transplant from: Broccoli (Mar 9), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 9), Cabbage (Mar 9), Collards (Mar 9), Kale (Mar 9), Lettuce (Mar 9), +6 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 2). |
| April | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (Apr 6), Beans (Apr 13), Pole Beans (Apr 13). Transplant from: Cosmos (Apr 6), Lavender (Apr 6), Marigolds (Apr 6), Mint (Apr 6), Nasturtiums (Apr 6), Zinnias (Apr 6), +23 more. Last frost around April 6. |
| May | Frost has passed. Transplant tomatoes, peppers, and basil outdoors. Direct sow beans, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini. |
| June | Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (Jun 23), Pumpkin (Jun 23). |
| July | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jul 1), Celery (Jul 1), Melons (Jul 1), Spaghetti Squash (Jul 3), Tomato (Jul 6), Watermelon (Jul 6), +5 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Aug 4), Pole Beans (Aug 4), Basil (Aug 9), Cosmos (Aug 9), Cucumber (Aug 9), Zinnias (Aug 9), +10 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Sep 3), Carrots (Sep 3), Beets (Sep 4), Dill (Sep 4), Swiss Chard (Sep 4), Calendula (Sep 9), +8 more. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Oct 3), Spinach (Oct 3), Radish (Oct 4). |
| November | Direct sow from: Garlic (Nov 5). First frost around November 5. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 26). |
| December | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Rehoboth Beach, DE (ZIP 19971)?
The median last spring frost date for Rehoboth Beach, DE (ZIP code 19971) is around April 6. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before March 24; one in ten it runs past April 20.
What is the first fall frost date in Rehoboth Beach, DE?
The median first fall frost date for Rehoboth Beach, DE is around November 5. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around October 21 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Rehoboth Beach, DE?
The frost-free growing season in Rehoboth Beach is about 213 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Rehoboth Beach (213 frost-free days, a long season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Rehoboth Beach, DE?
Rehoboth Beach, DE is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Rehoboth Beach, DE?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 2 and plant out Apr 20 in Rehoboth Beach. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Rehoboth Beach?
Two: plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 14; both mature before Nov 12.
When do I plant garlic in Rehoboth Beach?
Nov 5 to Nov 26; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Can I get two tomato crops in Rehoboth Beach?
Yes: plant out Apr 20 for a summer crop, and set out a second round of transplants by Jul 6 for a fall crop.
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