Virginia Beach, Virginia planting calendar and frost dates
Virginia Beach is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 29 and the first fall frost around November 12, giving about 230 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 29
- Typical first frost
- November 12
- Frost-free season
- 230 days
Frost dates in Virginia Beach
Last spring frost
- March 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 29Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 12Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 30Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 230 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 14 and returns around November 25.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Oceana Nas, 4 miles SW 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 Virginia Beach
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, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, 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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, 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, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, 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 Virginia Beach
All 9 of Virginia Beach's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Oceana Nas, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8a in 23464, and 8b in 23451, 23452, 23453, 23454, 23455, 23456, 23457, 23462.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23451 | 8b | Oceana Nas, 4 mi SW | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 23452 | 8b | Oceana Nas, 4 mi SW | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 23453 | 8b | Oceana Nas, 4 mi SW | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 23454 | 8b | Oceana Nas, 4 mi SW | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 23455 | 8b | Oceana Nas, 4 mi SW | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 23456 | 8b | Oceana Nas, 4 mi SW | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 23457 | 8b | Oceana Nas, 4 mi SW | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 23462 | 8b | Oceana Nas, 4 mi SW | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 23464 | 8a | Oceana Nas, 4 mi SW | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Virginia Beach
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jul 30 to Aug 6 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Cilantro | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | — |
| Basil | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 22 to 29 | Jul 23 to 30 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Nov 12 to 26 |
| Onions | Dec 7 to Jan 18 | Mar 1 to 15 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 4 to Mar 4 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jul 23 to Aug 20 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 8 to 29 | Aug 20 to Sep 10 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 13 to 20 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 20 to 27 |
| Zucchini | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
| Broccoli | Jan 11 to Feb 1 | Mar 1 to 15 | Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Peas | — | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
| Spinach | Feb 15 to 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Sep 3 to Oct 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | — |
| Zinnias | May 4 to 11 | Jun 1 to 15 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 1 to Nov 26 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 1 to Nov 12 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Oct 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- Norfolk, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Chesapeake, VA zone 8a, last frost Mar 17
- Portsmouth, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Hampton, VA zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Suffolk, VA zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Newport News, VA zone 8a, last frost Mar 17
Planting in VirginiaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Virginia Beach
Questions
When is the last frost in Virginia Beach?
Around March 29 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Oceana Nas. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 11.
What planting zone is Virginia Beach in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Virginia Beach?
Start seeds indoors February 25 to March 11 and set plants out April 22 to May 6.
When is the first frost in Virginia Beach?
Around November 12 in a typical year, and before November 1 about 1 year in 10.