When to plant in Virginia
Most of Virginia sees its last spring frost between Mar 29 and Apr 25, and its first fall frost between Oct 19 and Nov 12. The middle of the state is around April 10 and October 30: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Virginia: 6b (3%), 7a (32%), 7b (43%), 8a (16%), 8b (5%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 10 | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jul 7 – Sep 29 | — |
| Pepper | Feb 24 | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jul 12 – Oct 4 | — |
| Cucumber | — | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jun 22 – Aug 10 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jun 17 – Aug 26 | — |
| Winter squash | — | Apr 28 – May 12 | Aug 1 – Sep 5 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jun 22 – Aug 3 | — |
| Peas | — | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 28 – Jun 2 | Aug 10 – Aug 24 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jul 12 – Aug 9 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | Apr 27 – Jun 8 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 |
| Spinach | — | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 8 – May 20 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Kale | Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 7 – Jul 30 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 19 – Jun 23 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Cabbage | Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 22 – Jun 26 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 29 – Jul 10 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Beet | — | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 14 – Jun 25 | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| Radish | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Mar 31 – Apr 28 | Sep 21 – Oct 5 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Jun 14 – Jul 19 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 23 – Nov 13 (fall) | Jun 5 – Jun 26 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | Jun 18 – Jul 23 | — |
| Sweet potato | Mar 20 | May 1 – May 15 | Aug 9 – Sep 6 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 25 – Aug 29 | — |
| Basil | Mar 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 | May 28 – Sep 3 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 8 – Jun 5 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jul 17 – Aug 21 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Virginia. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Virginia
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 7b | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
| Roanoke | 7b | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| Arlington | 8a | Apr 9 | Oct 31 |
| Alexandria | 8a | Mar 24 | Nov 18 |
| Norfolk | 8b | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| Virginia Beach | 8b | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| Charlottesville | 7b | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| Hampton | 8b | Mar 24 | Nov 15 |
| Newport News | 8a | Apr 1 | Nov 9 |
| Chesapeake | 8a | Mar 23 | Nov 16 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.