Harrisonburg, Virginia planting calendar and frost dates
Harrisonburg is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 21 and the first fall frost around October 23, giving about 182 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 21
- Typical first frost
- October 23
- Frost-free season
- 182 days
Frost dates in Harrisonburg
Last spring frost
- April 9Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 21Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 9Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 23Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 3Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 182 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 9 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dale Enterprise, 4.5 miles NW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Harrisonburg
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Harrisonburg
All 3 of Harrisonburg's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Dale Enterprise, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Harrisonburg
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 15 to 29 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 10 to 24 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 24 to Aug 28 |
| Cilantro | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Basil | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | May 10 to 17 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 10 to 17 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 10 to 24 | Oct 23 to Nov 6 |
| Onions | Dec 30 to Feb 10 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 12 to 26 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 12 to 26 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 22 to Mar 22 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 31 to Apr 21 | Jul 31 to Aug 21 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 5 to 19 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 21 to May 5 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 12 to 26 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 3 to 24 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 7 to Sep 4 |
| Peas | — | Mar 10 to 24 | Jul 31 to Aug 14 |
| Spinach | Mar 10 to 17 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 14 to Sep 18 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 21 to May 12 | — |
| Zinnias | May 15 to 22 | Jun 12 to 26 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 11 to Nov 6 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 11 to Oct 23 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 10 to 24 | Sep 11 to 25 |
Nearby cities
- Lynchburg, VA zone 7b, last frost Apr 15
- Richmond, VA zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Roanoke, VA zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Alexandria, VA zone 7b, last frost Mar 24
- Rockville, MD zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- Gaithersburg, MD zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
Planting in VirginiaAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Harrisonburg
Questions
When is the last frost in Harrisonburg?
Around April 21 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Dale Enterprise. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 7.
What planting zone is Harrisonburg in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Harrisonburg?
Start seeds indoors March 15 to 29 and set plants out May 10 to 24.
When is the first frost in Harrisonburg?
Around October 23 in a typical year, and before October 9 about 1 year in 10.