Suffolk, Virginia planting calendar and frost dates
Suffolk is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 27 and the first fall frost around November 15, giving about 233 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 27
- Typical first frost
- November 15
- Frost-free season
- 233 days
Frost dates in Suffolk
Last spring frost
- March 10Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 27Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 9Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 15Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 233 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 15 and returns around December 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Suffolk Lake Kilby, 1 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 Suffolk
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: 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, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, 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, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, 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, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, 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
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 Suffolk
All 5 of Suffolk's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Suffolk Lake Kilby, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Suffolk
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Aug 2 to 9 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 16 to Sep 20 |
| Cilantro | Feb 13 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | — |
| Basil | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 20 to 27 | Jul 26 to Aug 2 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Nov 15 to 29 |
| Onions | Dec 5 to Jan 16 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 2 to Mar 2 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Jul 26 to Aug 23 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 6 to 27 | Aug 23 to Sep 13 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 10 to 17 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 20 to May 4 | Aug 23 to 30 |
| Zucchini | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Aug 23 to Sep 6 |
| Broccoli | Jan 9 to 30 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 30 to Sep 27 |
| Peas | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Aug 23 to Sep 6 |
| Spinach | Feb 13 to 20 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Sep 6 to Oct 11 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 27 to Apr 17 | — |
| Zinnias | May 3 to 10 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 4 to Nov 29 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 4 to Nov 15 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Oct 4 to 18 |
Nearby cities
- Chesapeake, VA zone 8a, last frost Mar 17
- Portsmouth, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Norfolk, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Newport News, VA zone 8a, last frost Mar 17
- Hampton, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Virginia Beach, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 29
Planting in VirginiaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Suffolk
Questions
When is the last frost in Suffolk?
Around March 27 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Suffolk Lake Kilby. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 9.
What planting zone is Suffolk 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 Suffolk?
Start seeds indoors February 23 to March 9 and set plants out April 20 to May 4.
When is the first frost in Suffolk?
Around November 15 in a typical year, and before November 2 about 1 year in 10.