Lynchburg, Virginia planting calendar and frost dates
Lynchburg is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 15 and the first fall frost around October 24, giving about 191 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7b
- Typical last frost
- April 15
- Typical first frost
- October 24
- Frost-free season
- 191 days
Frost dates in Lynchburg
Last spring frost
- March 30Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 3Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 12Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 5Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 191 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 1 and returns around November 3.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lynchburg Rgnl Airport, 2.5 miles SSE of the city center and 104 feet higher. 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 Lynchburg
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, 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 Lynchburg
All 4 of Lynchburg's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Lynchburg Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lynchburg
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 8 to 22 | Jul 25 to Aug 29 |
| Cilantro | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Oct 24 to Nov 7 |
| Onions | Dec 24 to Feb 4 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 11 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 25 to Apr 15 | Aug 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 8 to Sep 5 |
| Peas | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Aug 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Mar 4 to 11 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 15 to May 6 | — |
| Zinnias | May 11 to 18 | Jun 8 to 22 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 12 to Nov 7 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 12 to Oct 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Sep 12 to 26 |
Nearby cities
- Roanoke, VA zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Harrisonburg, VA zone 7a, last frost Apr 21
- Burlington, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Richmond, VA zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Greensboro, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Durham, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
Planting in VirginiaAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Lynchburg
Questions
When is the last frost in Lynchburg?
Around April 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lynchburg Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 3.
What planting zone is Lynchburg in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lynchburg?
Start seeds indoors March 4 to 18 and set plants out April 29 to May 13; the safest date to plant out is after May 3.
When is the first frost in Lynchburg?
Around October 24 in a typical year, and before October 12 about 1 year in 10.