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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

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  7. July

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  12. 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 codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
240127bRoanoke Rgnl Airport, 4.3 mi WApr 3Nov 1
240137bRoanoke Rgnl Airport, 4.5 mi NWApr 3Nov 1
240147bRoanoke Rgnl Airport, 7.3 mi NNWApr 3Nov 1
240157bRoanoke Rgnl Airport, 4.3 mi NApr 3Nov 1
240167bRoanoke Rgnl Airport, 3.3 mi NNWApr 3Nov 1
240177bRoanoke Rgnl Airport, 1.6 mi NEApr 3Nov 1
240187bRoanoke Rgnl Airport, 8.1 mi NNEApr 3Nov 1
240197bRoanoke Rgnl Airport, 2.2 mi SSWApr 3Nov 1

Planting dates for popular crops in Roanoke

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 22 to May 6Jul 19 to 26
Strawberries—Feb 20 to Mar 6—
LettuceFeb 6 to 20Mar 27 to Apr 10Aug 2 to Sep 6
CilantroFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 3 to 10—
BasilMar 4 to 18Apr 22 to 29—
Potatoes—Mar 22 to 29Jul 12 to 19
Garlic—Feb 20 to Mar 6Nov 1 to 15
OnionsDec 12 to Jan 23Mar 6 to 20—
CucumbersMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22 to May 6Aug 2 to 16
PumpkinsMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22 to May 6—
PeppersFeb 4 to Mar 4Apr 22 to May 6Jul 12 to Aug 9
Carrots—Mar 13 to Apr 3Aug 9 to 30
Sweet Potatoes—May 12 to 19—
WatermelonsMar 18 to Apr 1Apr 22 to May 6—
Sweet Corn—Apr 3 to 17Jul 26 to Aug 9
Green Beans—Apr 22 to May 6Aug 9 to 16
ZucchiniMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22 to May 6Aug 9 to 23
BroccoliJan 16 to Feb 6Mar 6 to 20Aug 16 to Sep 13
Peas—Feb 20 to Mar 6Aug 9 to 23
SpinachFeb 20 to 27Mar 27 to Apr 10Aug 23 to Sep 27
Sunflowers—Apr 3 to 24—
ZinniasMay 4 to 11Jun 1 to 15—
Tulips——Sep 20 to Nov 15
Daffodils——Sep 20 to Nov 1
Grass Seed—Feb 20 to Mar 6Sep 20 to Oct 4

Nearby cities

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.