Roanoke, Virginia planting calendar and frost dates
Roanoke is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 3 and the first fall frost around November 1, giving about 210 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7b
- Typical last frost
- April 3
- Typical first frost
- November 1
- Frost-free season
- 210 days
Frost dates in Roanoke
Last spring frost
- March 19Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 3Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 18Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 18Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 15Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 210 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 22 and returns around November 12.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Roanoke Rgnl Airport, 4.3 miles W 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 Roanoke
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, 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, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Roanoke
All 8 of Roanoke's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Roanoke Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24012 | 7b | Roanoke Rgnl Airport, 4.3 mi W | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 24013 | 7b | Roanoke Rgnl Airport, 4.5 mi NW | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 24014 | 7b | Roanoke Rgnl Airport, 7.3 mi NNW | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 24015 | 7b | Roanoke Rgnl Airport, 4.3 mi N | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 24016 | 7b | Roanoke Rgnl Airport, 3.3 mi NNW | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 24017 | 7b | Roanoke Rgnl Airport, 1.6 mi NE | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 24018 | 7b | Roanoke Rgnl Airport, 8.1 mi NNE | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 24019 | 7b | Roanoke Rgnl Airport, 2.2 mi SSW | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Roanoke
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jul 19 to 26 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 2 to Sep 6 |
| Cilantro | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 10 | — |
| Basil | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 22 to 29 | Jul 12 to 19 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Nov 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Dec 12 to Jan 23 | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 4 to Mar 4 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jul 12 to Aug 9 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 13 to Apr 3 | Aug 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 9 to 16 |
| Zucchini | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Broccoli | Jan 16 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 16 to Sep 13 |
| Peas | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Feb 20 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 23 to Sep 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 3 to 24 | — |
| Zinnias | May 4 to 11 | Jun 1 to 15 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
Nearby cities
- Lynchburg, VA zone 7b, last frost Apr 15
- Greensboro, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Winston-Salem, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Burlington, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- High Point, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Harrisonburg, VA zone 7a, last frost Apr 21
Planting in VirginiaAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Roanoke
Questions
When is the last frost in Roanoke?
Around April 3 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Roanoke Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 18.
What planting zone is Roanoke 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 Roanoke?
Start seeds indoors February 25 to March 11 and set plants out April 22 to May 6.
When is the first frost in Roanoke?
Around November 1 in a typical year, and before October 18 about 1 year in 10.