Newport News, Virginia planting calendar and frost dates
Newport News is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 17 and the first fall frost around November 23, giving about 252 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 17
- Typical first frost
- November 23
- Frost-free season
- 252 days
Frost dates in Newport News
Last spring frost
- February 27Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 17Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 31Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 8Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 23Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 10Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 252 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 March 4 and returns around December 8.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Norfolk International Airport, 7.4 miles NE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Newport News shares this station with Chesapeake, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Newport News
January
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
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, 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
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, 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, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
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
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Newport News
All 8 of Newport News's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Norfolk International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8a in 23602, 23603, 23604, 23606, 23608, and 8b in 23601, 23605, 23607.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23601 | 8b | Norfolk International Airport, 7.4 mi NE | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| 23602 | 8a | Norfolk International Airport, 7.4 mi NE | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| 23603 | 8a | Norfolk International Airport, 7.4 mi NE | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| 23604 | 8a | Norfolk International Airport, 7.4 mi NE | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| 23605 | 8b | Norfolk International Airport, 7.4 mi NE | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| 23606 | 8a | Norfolk International Airport, 7.4 mi NE | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| 23607 | 8b | Norfolk International Airport, 7.4 mi NE | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| 23608 | 8a | Norfolk International Airport, 7.4 mi NE | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
Norfolk International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Chesapeake, Norfolk, Hampton and Portsmouth, so their planting calendars match Newport News's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Newport News
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 15 to 29 | Aug 10 to 17 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 3 to 17 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 20 to Feb 3 | Mar 10 to 24 | Aug 24 to Sep 28 |
| Cilantro | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 17 to 24 | — |
| Basil | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 14 to 21 | Aug 3 to 10 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 3 to 17 | Nov 23 to Dec 7 |
| Onions | Nov 25 to Jan 6 | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 to 29 | Aug 24 to Sep 7 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 28 to Feb 25 | Apr 15 to 29 | Aug 3 to 31 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 24 to Mar 17 | Aug 31 to Sep 21 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 17 to 31 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 15 to 29 | Aug 31 to Sep 7 |
| Zucchini | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 to 29 | Aug 31 to Sep 14 |
| Broccoli | Dec 30 to Jan 20 | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Sep 7 to Oct 5 |
| Peas | — | Feb 3 to 17 | Aug 31 to Sep 14 |
| Spinach | Feb 3 to 10 | Mar 10 to 24 | Sep 14 to Oct 19 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 17 to Apr 7 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 26 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 12 to Dec 7 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 12 to Nov 23 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 3 to 17 | Oct 12 to 26 |
Nearby cities
- Hampton, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Portsmouth, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Norfolk, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Suffolk, VA zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Chesapeake, VA zone 8a, last frost Mar 17
- Virginia Beach, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 29
Planting in VirginiaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Newport News
Questions
When is the last frost in Newport News?
Around March 17 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Norfolk International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 31.
What planting zone is Newport News in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Newport News?
Start seeds indoors February 18 to March 4 and set plants out April 15 to 29.
When is the first frost in Newport News?
Around November 23 in a typical year, and before November 8 about 1 year in 10.