Virginia frost dates

Average last spring and first fall frost dates for Virginia’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.

Reviewed October 2026

Among Virginia’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Mar 16 in Norfolk to Apr 24 in Blacksburg. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.

City	Average last spring frost	Average first fall frost	Frost-free days	Hardiness zone	Weather station used
Virginia Beach	Mar 29	Nov 12	228	8b	Oceana Nas, VA, 3 mi
Chesapeake	Mar 23	Nov 18	240	8a	Fentress Naas, VA, 9 mi
Richmond	Apr 3	Nov 4	215	7b	Richmond Intl Airport, VA, 9 mi
Norfolk	Mar 16	Nov 26	255	8b	Norfolk Nas, VA, 3 mi
Newport News	Apr 1	Nov 9	222	8a–8b	Newport News Intl Airport, VA, 4 mi
Alexandria	Mar 24	Nov 18	239	7b–8a	Washington Reagan Airport, VA, 3 mi
Hampton	Mar 24	Nov 15	236	8b	Langley Afb, VA, 4 mi
Suffolk	Mar 27	Nov 15	233	8a	Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA, 3 mi
Roanoke	Apr 3	Nov 1	212	7b	Roanoke Rgnl Airport, VA, 3 mi
Portsmouth	Mar 23	Nov 16	238	8a–8b	Norfolk S, VA, 7 mi
Lynchburg	Apr 17	Oct 25	191	7b	Lynchburg #2, VA, 2 mi
Harrisonburg	Apr 21	Oct 23	185	7a	Dale Enterprise, VA, 4 mi
Leesburg	Apr 16	Oct 25	192	7a–7b	Purcellville, VA, 8 mi
Blacksburg	Apr 24	Oct 19	178	7a	Blacksburg Nwso, VA, 2 mi
Charlottesville	Apr 2	Nov 10	222	7b	Charlottesville 2W, VA, 2 mi
Manassas	Apr 12	Oct 27	198	7a–7b	Manassas, VA
Danville	Apr 8	Nov 1	207	7b	Danville 2 Se, VA, 3 mi
Petersburg	Apr 3	Nov 3	214	7b	Petersburg, VA, 2 mi
Fredericksburg	Apr 6	Nov 1	209	7a–7b	Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, 2 mi
Winchester	Apr 11	Oct 29	201	7a	Winchester, VA, 2 mi

Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.

An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.

Planting dates for Virginia Beach

Timed from Virginia Beach’s average last frost of Mar 29, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant outside
Tomatoes	Feb 8 to Feb 22	Apr 5 to Apr 12
Peppers	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 12
Lettuce	Jan 25 to Feb 1	Mar 1 to Mar 8
Broccoli	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Mar 1 to Mar 15
Cucumbers	Mar 8 to Mar 15	Apr 5 to Apr 12
Basil	Feb 15 to Mar 1	Apr 12

When to plant, for your garden

Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.

ZIP code

Last frost date

Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.

Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.

More about frost dates

How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors

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