Author: Jagdish Reddy | 10+ Years Sustainable Gardening Experience
Verification: Cross-referenced with USDA Climate Data & University Research
Status: Verified for current US regional growing conditions
Last Updated: April, 2026

What is a Virginia planting calendar? A Virginia planting calendar is a month-by-month gardening schedule showing when to start seeds indoors, transplant crops, and direct sow vegetables based on USDA hardiness zones and local frost dates. Virginia spans Zones 5a through 8a — meaning a gardener in Highland County and one in Norfolk are working with growing seasons that differ by more than four months.

This calendar is designed as a practical working reference rather than a general gardening article.

Who this Virginia planting calendar is for:

• Beginner gardeners needing a clear monthly guide
• Experienced growers optimizing planting timing by zone
• Raised bed and backyard vegetable gardeners
• Homesteaders planning seasonal crops across multiple regions

QUICK ANSWER: Mountain and Shenandoah Valley growers (Zones 5a–6b) can sow cool-season crops outdoors from late March through April and should hold warm-season transplants until mid-to-late May. Central Virginia and Northern Virginia gardeners (Zones 7a–7b) typically begin outdoor cool-season sowing in mid-March, with tomatoes and peppers going out late April to early May. Coastal Virginia and Hampton Roads (Zone 8a) can start cool-season crops as early as late February — warm-season crops follow in mid-April. Your local last frost date is the anchor for this entire planting schedule. Count backward from it to set every indoor seed-starting date.

Virginia is one of the most varied states to garden in the eastern U.S. The Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, the rolling Piedmont, and the flat Tidewater coast create conditions that shift by weeks across a single county. A vegetable planting calendar for Virginia has to account for all of it — this one does.

This Virginia gardening schedule by month covers vegetables, herbs, and flowers with zone-specific timing, frost dates, indoor seed-starting schedules, and a full Virginia planting chart for quick reference.

Pro planting tip: Soil temperature matters more than air temperature. A simple $10 soil thermometer prevents most early planting failures — cool-season crops need 40–55°F, warm-season crops need 65°F or above. Buy one before spring arrives.

Virginia Planting Calendar by Month — Quick View

This table answers the most common question: what month do I plant vegetables in Virginia? Dates shown are for Zone 7 (Piedmont/Northern Virginia). Coastal growers shift 3–4 weeks earlier; mountain growers shift 3–4 weeks later.

Month	Planting Focus
January	Start onions and leeks indoors
February	Start peppers, eggplant, broccoli indoors
March	Sow peas, spinach, carrots, lettuce outdoors; start tomatoes indoors
April	Plant potatoes and lettuce; transplant brassicas; tomatoes outdoors (coastal)
May	Tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, sweet potato slips
June	Beans (succession), okra, southern peas; plan fall crops
July	Start fall broccoli, kale, cabbage indoors
August	Sow fall spinach, kale, carrots, beets, radishes
September	Fall greens; transplant fall brassicas
October	Plant garlic; plant spring bulbs; sow cover crops
November	Protect cool-season crops; order seeds
December	Plan rotations; start microgreens indoors

Virginia Planting Calendar — Quick Reference Table

Use this Virginia planting chart as your at-a-glance growing calendar. Mtn = Mountain/Valley (Zones 5a–6b); Pied = Piedmont/N. VA (Zones 7a–7b); Coast = Tidewater/Coastal Plain (Zone 8a).

Crop	Start Indoors	Transplant Outside	Direct Sow	Region Notes
Tomatoes	Late Feb–Mar	Late Apr–May	—	Mtn: after May 15; Coast: mid-Apr
Peppers	Early–Mid Feb	Early–Mid May	—	Start 2–3 wks before tomatoes
Eggplant	Early–Mid Feb	Early–Mid May	—	All regions; needs warmth
Cucumbers	Early Apr	Late Apr–May	May (65°F soil)	Excellent statewide; succession sow
Summer Squash / Zucchini	Late Mar–Early Apr	Late Apr–May	May after frost	All regions; prolific
Winter Squash / Pumpkins	Early–Mid Apr	Early–Mid May	May after frost	All regions
Beans (snap / pole)	—	—	May–July	Succession sow every 3 weeks
Corn	—	—	May–June	Piedmont and Tidewater ideal
Melons / Watermelon	Late Mar–Early Apr	Late Apr–May	—	All zones; Tidewater excels
Peas	—	—	Mar–Apr (Coast/Pied); Late Mar–Apr (Mtn)	Sow as early as ground allows
Lettuce / Salad Mix	Feb–Mar	Mar–Apr	Mar–Oct (Coast/Pied)	Succession sow every 3–4 wks
Spinach	—	—	Feb–Apr; Aug–Sept	Bolts in summer; great fall crop
Kale / Chard	Feb–Mar	Mar–Apr	Mar–Aug	Fall-planted kale thrives statewide
Broccoli / Cauliflower	Mid Feb–Mar	Late Mar–Apr	—	Also start July–Aug for fall harvest
Cabbage	Mid Feb–Mar	Late Mar–Apr	—	Strong fall crop all regions
Carrots	—	—	Mar–July	Loose soil; succession sow
Beets	—	—	Mar–July	Easy direct sow; great fall crop
Radishes	—	—	Mar–Oct	30-day crop; easy succession
Onions	Dec–Jan	Mar–Apr	—	Start early; sets or transplants
Leeks	Jan–Early Feb	Mar–Apr	—	Hardy; transplant early spring
Garlic	—	—	Oct–Nov (fall)	Harvest following June–July
Potatoes	—	—	Mar–Apr (Pied/Coast); Apr–May (Mtn)	Certified seed potatoes
Sweet Potatoes	—	Slips: May–June	—	All regions; Tidewater excels
Okra	Late Mar–Early Apr	Mid May	May (70°F soil)	Loves Virginia heat; direct sow fine
Basil	Late Mar–Early Apr	Late Apr–May	—	Most frost-tender herb; don’t rush
Parsley	Feb–Mar	Apr–May	—	Slow germinator; start indoors 8 wks
Cilantro	—	—	Mar–May; Aug–Oct	Bolts fast in heat
Dill	—	—	Apr–June	Direct sow only
Pansies / Violas	Feb–Mar	Late Feb–Mar	—	Cold-hardy; great fall/winter color
Zinnias	Late Apr–May	Late Apr–May	Late Apr–May	Virginia’s easiest summer annual
Sunflowers	—	—	Apr–June	After soil hits 60°F; stagger sowings
Marigolds	Mar–Apr	Late Apr–May	Late Apr–May	After last frost; great companion
Dahlias (tubers)	—	—	Plant May	Dig after first fall frost
Coneflower / Black-eyed Susan	—	Mar–Apr	Mar–Apr	Virginia native; low maintenance
Tulips / Daffodils	—	—	Oct–Nov (fall)	Bulbs in fall for spring bloom

Bookmark this Virginia growing calendar — you’ll return to it every season.

Garden Planner Tool

Plan your garden layout using this interactive planner. Enter your garden size to calculate plant spacing and planting timing based on this planting calendar.

This planner helps turn the planting calendar above into a practical garden layout based on your available space.

Virginia Planting Calendar — Key Dates by Region

Mountains & Shenandoah Valley (Zones 5a–6b) Cool-season crops outdoors → Late March – April Warm-season transplants (tomatoes, peppers) → Mid–Late May Fall crops start indoors → Late July – August Garlic planting → October – November

Piedmont & Northern Virginia (Zone 7 planting calendar Virginia) Cool-season crops outdoors → Mid-March Warm-season transplants → Late April – Early May Fall crops start indoors → July – August Garlic planting → October – November

Tidewater & Coastal Plain (Zone 8 planting calendar Virginia) Cool-season crops outdoors → Late February – March Warm-season transplants → Mid–Late April Fall crops start indoors → Early July Garlic planting → October – Early November

Virginia USDA Zones and Frost Dates

USDA hardiness data confirms Virginia spans Zones 5a through 8a. Elevation and proximity to the coast are the two forces that most shape the Virginia planting schedule across the state.

City / Region	Zone	Last Spring Frost	First Fall Frost	Growing Season
Highland County (mountains)	5a–5b	May 15–June 1	Sept 15–Oct 1	~115–130 days
Harrisonburg / Staunton	6a–6b	May 1–15	Oct 1–15	~145–165 days
Roanoke / Blacksburg	6b–7a	April 25–May 10	Oct 5–20	~160–180 days
Charlottesville / Lynchburg	7a	April 15–25	Oct 15–25	~175–190 days
Northern Virginia / Fairfax	7a–7b	April 5–15	Oct 25–Nov 5	~195–210 days
Richmond / Petersburg	7b	April 5–15	Oct 25–Nov 5	~200–215 days
Fredericksburg	7a–7b	April 10–20	Oct 20–Nov 1	~190–205 days
Norfolk / Virginia Beach	8a	March 15–April 1	Nov 15–25	~235–255 days

NOAA climate averages show these dates shift by one to two weeks in any direction in a given year. Mountain valleys are especially prone to late cold air drainage — many Zone 6 growers have lost a pepper transplant in early May to a frost that didn’t register at the nearest weather station. Always check your 10-day forecast before setting out tomatoes, basil, or cucumbers.

Is Virginia good for gardening? Yes — Virginia’s range of zones and long growing seasons in the Piedmont and Tidewater make it one of the better Mid-Atlantic states for year-round food production. The challenge is that no single schedule fits the whole state.

How long is Virginia’s growing season? It ranges from about 115 days in the high mountains to over 250 days along the Hampton Roads coast. Most of the state falls between 160 and 215 frost-free days.

Mountain/Valley vs. Piedmont vs. Tidewater: Key Planting Differences

Factor	Mountains & Valley (5a–6b)	Piedmont & N. Virginia (7a–7b)	Tidewater & Coast (8a)
Last spring frost	May 1–June 1	April 5–25	March 15–April 1
First fall frost	Sept 15–Oct 15	Oct 15–Nov 5	Nov 15–25
Growing season	~115–180 days	~175–215 days	~235–255 days
Summer temperatures	Mild; cool nights	Hot and humid	Hot, humid, extended
Best cool-season crops	Kale, broccoli, root crops	Lettuce, peas, brassicas	Greens (fall/winter), brassicas
Best warm-season crops	Beans, squash, potatoes	Tomatoes, peppers, corn	Okra, sweet potatoes, watermelon
Fall garden potential	Short but productive	Excellent	Outstanding — near year-round
Tomato transplant date	May 10–20	Late April–Early May	Mid April
Garlic planting	October – November	October – November	October – Early November

When to Start Seeds Indoors in Virginia

Indoor seed starting extends the productive season on both ends — giving warm-season crops a head start before last frost and getting fall transplants established during summer. The principle is consistent statewide: count backward from your local last frost date and allow the right number of weeks for each crop.

A basic LED shop light kept 2–3 inches above seedlings for 14–16 hours daily produces far stockier transplants than a windowsill — especially for peppers and eggplant, which also need consistent bottom heat around 70–75°F to germinate reliably. In our observations, peppers transplanted into warm soil outperform early cold-soil plantings by several weeks of productive growth.

Virginia Indoor Seed-Starting Schedule

Crop	Start Indoors	Weeks Before Transplant	Transplant Date
Onions	Dec–Early Jan	12–14 wks	Mar–Apr
Leeks	Jan–Early Feb	10–12 wks	Mar–Apr
Peppers	Early–Mid Feb	10–12 wks	Late Apr–Mid May
Eggplant	Early–Mid Feb	10–12 wks	Late Apr–Mid May
Celery / Celeriac	Early–Mid Feb	10–12 wks	Late Apr–May
Tomatoes	Late Feb–Early Mar	8–10 wks	Late Apr–Mid May
Broccoli / Cauliflower	Mid Feb–Mar	6–8 wks	Late Mar–Apr
Kale / Cabbage	Mid Feb–Mar	6–8 wks	Mar–Apr
Lettuce / Salad Mix	Feb–Mar	4–6 wks	Mar–Apr
Okra	Late Mar–Early Apr	4–6 wks	Mid–Late May
Basil	Late Mar–Early Apr	6–8 wks	Late Apr–May
Snapdragons / Pansies	Early–Mid Feb	8–10 wks	Late Feb–Mar
Zinnias / Marigolds	Late Mar–Early Apr	4–6 wks	Late Apr–May

Mountain/Valley zones (5a–6b) — key indoor start dates: Peppers → start early–mid February; transplant mid–late May Tomatoes → start late February–early March; transplant mid–late May Broccoli / Cabbage → start early–mid March; transplant mid-April Winter Squash → start early–mid April; transplant mid–late May Sweet potato slips → order early; plant late May–early June

Monthly Planting Calendar for Virginia

January – February

Start onions and leeks under lights in early January — they need 12–14 weeks before transplanting, which catches many first-year gardeners off guard. Peppers and eggplant go under lights in early-to-mid February with consistent bottom heat. Coastal Virginia gardeners can direct sow spinach and arugula under cold frames by late February.

Growers across the Piedmont use this period to hold overwintering kale under row cover — it resumes growth fast as days lengthen. Higher elevation areas are dormant outdoors; use January to finalize your seed order and plan bed rotations.

March

Cool-season sowing begins in earnest this month for most of the state. Coastal growers direct sow peas, spinach, radishes, carrots, beets, and lettuce as soon as soil is workable — typically early March. Start tomato transplants indoors now across all regions. Central Virginia gardeners typically begin outdoor sowing around mid-March once soil temperature climbs above 40°F. Higher elevation areas should wait for late March. If you are setting up new raised beds this spring, use our raised bed soil calculator before you buy.

April

Coastal Virginia gardeners can set out warm-season transplants — tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers — mid-to-late April once nights stay above 50°F consistently. Many Zone 7b growers around Richmond plant tomatoes in late April in sheltered beds, though cautious gardeners wait until early May. Zone 6 mountain and valley growers should not transplant warm-season crops yet — frost risk runs through early-to-mid May. All regions continue direct sowing carrots, beets, chard, and succession salad greens. Potatoes go in the ground across the Piedmont and Tidewater this month.

May

After your local last frost date passes, warm-season crops go in: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and basil. Direct sow beans and summer squash. This is a good time to top up bed borders — our mulch calculator shows exactly how much you need. Sweet potato slips go in mid-to-late May across the Piedmont and Tidewater. Zone 7 gardeners often report better success waiting until early May rather than rushing in late April — the soil is genuinely warmer and transplants establish faster. Zone 6a growers should hold until after May 15. Succession sow beans every 2–3 weeks through July.

June

Full production across the state. Summer heat builds quickly — keep warm-season crops consistently watered and mulched. Coastal growers should start fall broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants indoors in late June. Continue succession sowing beans and summer squash. Direct sow okra and southern peas through mid-June; both thrive in Virginia’s summer conditions.

July – August

The most critical months for fall garden planning — and the window most Virginia gardeners miss. Start fall broccoli, kale, cabbage, and collards indoors in early-to-mid July and transplant outdoors in August before the fall heat breaks. Direct sow fall spinach, beets, turnips, and radishes from late July through August. Shade cloth and consistent watering make the difference for seedlings started in summer heat. Many Piedmont gardeners are surprised at how productive August-planted spinach becomes once September temperatures drop.

September – October

Some of the best gardening weather in Virginia arrives this month. Direct sow spinach, arugula, lettuce, radishes, and turnips through mid-September across all regions. October is garlic month statewide. Plant hardneck varieties — Porcelain, Rocambole, or Purple Stripe — for harvest the following June–July. Plant spring bulbs and sow cover crops over empty beds. Cool-season crops planted now across the Piedmont and Tidewater will produce well into December.

November – December

Hardy crops — kale, chard, collards, spinach, arugula — continue producing through November in coastal Virginia and into January with minimal row cover protection. Piedmont kale is frost-hardy well below 20°F and often survives winter without any cover at all. Mountain gardens are dormant outdoors. Statewide: order seeds, review what worked, plan rotations. Use our compost calculator to figure out how much to work into beds this fall before the ground freezes.

Virginia Herb Planting Calendar

Herb	Mountains/Valley	Piedmont/N. VA	Tidewater	Notes
Basil	Late May–June	Late Apr–May	Mid Apr–May	Most frost-sensitive; never rush outdoors
Parsley	Apr–May (transplant)	Mar–Apr	Feb–Mar	Start indoors 8 wks early
Cilantro	Apr–May; Aug–Sept	Mar–May; Aug–Oct	Feb–Apr; Aug–Nov	Bolts fast in heat
Dill	May–June	Apr–June	Mar–June	Direct sow only
Chives	Apr–May	Mar–Apr	Feb–Mar	Hardy perennial; divide in fall
Mint	May	Apr–May	Mar–Apr	Containers only; spreads aggressively
Rosemary	May	Apr–May	Mar–Apr	Hardy to Zone 7b; mulch in mountains
Thyme / Oregano	May	Apr–May	Mar–Apr	Hardy perennials once established
Lavender	May	Apr–May	Mar–Apr	Needs good drainage; great in Piedmont
Sage	May	Apr–May	Mar–Apr	Drought-tolerant; thrives in VA heat

When to Plant Flowers in Virginia

Virginia’s spring produces outstanding results for cool-season flowers, and the warm summers with reliable rainfall make zinnias, marigolds, and dahlias among the easiest flowers to grow in the Mid-Atlantic.

Flower	Plant Time	Bloom Time	Notes
Pansies / Violas	Late Feb–Mar (transplant)	Spring and Fall	Cold-hardy to 20°F; also great fall planting
Snapdragons	Feb–Mar indoors; Mar–Apr transplant	Apr–June	Cool-tolerant; outstanding cut flower
Dianthus / Alyssum	Mar–Apr (transplant)	Apr–June	Good cool-season performers
Nasturtiums	Apr–May (direct sow)	June–Oct	Very easy; edible flowers
Cosmos	Apr–May (direct sow)	July–Frost	Self-seeds reliably across Virginia
Zinnias	Late Apr–May	June–Frost	Virginia’s most reliable summer annual
Marigolds	Late Apr–May	June–Frost	After last frost; great tomato companion
Sunflowers	Apr–June (direct sow)	July–Sept	After soil hits 60°F; stagger plantings
Dahlias (tubers)	May	Aug–Frost	Plant after last frost; dig before hard freeze
Coneflower / Black-eyed Susan	Mar–Apr (transplant)	June–Sept	Virginia native; drought-tolerant
Bee Balm / Joe-Pye Weed	Mar–Apr (transplant)	July–Sept	Outstanding for pollinators
Impatiens / Begonias	Late Apr–May (transplant)	June–Frost	Shade-tolerant; wait for warm nights
Tulips / Daffodils	Oct–Nov (fall bulbs)	Mar–May	Essential for spring color
Alliums	Oct–Nov (fall)	May–June	Long-lasting; deer-resistant

Zinnias deserve a special mention. Virginia’s warm summers and reliable July–August rainfall make them among the highest-performing flowers in the state — a direct-sown row in late April produces armloads of cut flowers from June through frost with almost no intervention.

Common Planting Mistakes Virginia Gardeners Make

These are the most common timing mistakes Virginia gardeners make each season — most of them come down to impatience or missing a key window.

Planting tomatoes too early. A warm April spell tempts nearly every Piedmont gardener at some point. But a late frost at 29°F kills unhardened transplants overnight, and 36°F stunts peppers for weeks. Many Virginia gardeners learn this after losing early tomatoes to an unexpected April cold snap. A tomato set out in warm soil after the last frost date will outperform one planted three weeks early, every time.

Ignoring elevation and cold air drainage. Frost can settle in a low valley bottom two to three weeks after the ridges above it are frost-free. Roanoke County alone spans four USDA hardiness zones. Always verify your zone by ZIP at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov — a neighbor a mile away may not share your frost window.

Skipping hardening off. Seedlings moved directly from indoor warmth to Virginia’s windy April outdoors routinely suffer transplant shock — even when frost risk is past. Give transplants 7–10 days of gradually increasing outdoor time before planting permanently.

Treating frost dates as guarantees. Last frost dates represent a 50% probability — half of years will see a later frost. Cold snaps in mountain areas are common well into May. Watch the forecast; don’t just trust the calendar.

Missing the fall planting window. Virginia’s fall garden is one of its greatest advantages, and one of its most consistently missed. Count 60–90 days back from your first fall frost and start brassicas and greens indoors in July. Growers who make this shift often say fall becomes their favorite growing season.

Not succession planting cool-season crops. One batch of spinach in March creates a glut in April and nothing by June. Sow salad greens, radishes, and beets every 3–4 weeks from early spring through fall.

Starting peppers and tomatoes the same week. Peppers need 10–12 weeks indoors; tomatoes need 8–10. Start peppers 2–3 weeks earlier or tomatoes become root-bound while peppers are still small.

Advanced Virginia Planting Tips

These practices separate consistently productive gardens from ones that struggle.

Use a soil thermometer. Air temperature is not a reliable guide to germination or root growth. A $15 soil thermometer at 2-inch depth gives you real information; most gardeners who try one never go back to guessing. Track your microclimates. South-facing beds warm 1–2 weeks earlier than north-facing ones.

A bed against a brick wall in Richmond can behave like a Zone 8 microclimate even in Zone 7b. Record these patterns over a few seasons. Use consistent succession intervals. For continuous harvests, sow salad greens every 14–21 days, beans every 21 days, and radishes every 10–14 days from spring through fall. Start fall transplants on time. The window for fall brassicas is narrow — for most of Virginia, early-to-mid July is the target. Starting too late means plants don’t size up before cold.

Quick Virginia Planting Tips

• Never plant tomatoes before soil hits 60°F
• Always check frost dates by ZIP code, not county
• Start peppers 2–3 weeks earlier than tomatoes
• Succession plant salad greens and beans every 3 weeks
• Plant garlic in October for best results
• Use a soil thermometer — not just a calendar
• Start fall brassicas indoors in July, not September

Virginia Seasonal Garden Planting Checklist

January – February

• Order seeds; plan crop rotation
• Start onions and leeks indoors (early January)
• Start peppers and eggplant indoors (early–mid February)
• Set up grow lights for strong seedlings
• Amend beds with compost — use our compost calculator

March – April

• Sow cool-season crops outdoors (coastal: early Mar; central Virginia: mid-Mar; mountains: late Mar–Apr)
• Start tomatoes, brassicas, and cool-season flowers indoors
• Transplant hardened-off brassicas, onions, and leeks outdoors
• Plant potatoes in Piedmont and Tidewater (March–April)
• Set out warm-season crops: coastal mid-April; central Virginia late April–early May

May – June

• Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil after last frost (mountains: after May 15; central VA: late Apr–early May; coastal: mid-Apr)
• Direct sow beans, squash, cucumbers after frost
• Plant sweet potato slips mid–late May
• Plant dahlias, zinnias, warm-season flowers after last frost
• Begin succession sowing beans and salad greens
• Harden off all transplants 7–10 days before planting
• Start fall brassicas indoors late June (Tidewater)

July – August

• Start fall broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower indoors (early–mid July)
• Direct sow fall spinach, beets, turnips, carrots, radishes (late July–August)
• Harvest regularly to keep plants producing
• Water deeply at the base of plants as summer peaks
• Transplant fall brassicas outdoors in August

September – November

• Sow fast greens for fall harvest through mid-September
• Plant garlic (October–November)
• Plant spring bulbs — tulips, daffodils, alliums (October)
• Sow cover crops over empty beds through October
• Dig and store dahlia tubers after first fall frost
• Cover Tidewater cool-season crops with row cover in November

How to Use This Virginia Planting Calendar

1. Find your USDA hardiness zone. Enter your zip code at USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to confirm your zone.. Virginia’s topography means zones shift over just a few miles — verify by ZIP, not county name.

2. Look up your local last spring frost date. Use your county’s Virginia Cooperative Extension office or the Midwestern Regional Climate Center tool at mrcc.purdue.edu. This single date anchors your entire Virginia gardening schedule.

3. Count backward for indoor seed starts. If your last frost is May 10 and tomatoes need 8–10 weeks indoors, start in early-to-mid March. Peppers need 2–3 extra weeks — always start them first.

4. Check soil temperature before direct sowing. Use a thermometer at 2-inch depth. Cool-season crops germinate at 40–55°F; warm-season crops need 65°F or above. Air temperature is not a reliable substitute.

5. Plan succession plantings. Schedule new sowings of salad greens, beans, and radishes every 3–4 weeks. Virginia’s long shoulder seasons make this one of the highest-return habits in the garden. If you are building new beds for succession crops, our raised bed soil calculator helps estimate soil volume before planting.

6. Harden off all transplants. Bring seedlings outside for gradually increasing time over 7–10 days. Virginia’s spring winds are drying and damaging to tender indoor-grown plants.

7. Keep a simple planting journal. Note planting dates, first harvest, and any weather anomalies. Three seasons of notes from your specific location will outperform any regional guide.

Key Takeaways

• Virginia divides into three gardening regions — Mountains/Valley, Piedmont/Northern Virginia, Tidewater/Coast — with planting schedules that shift by 4–6 weeks between them.
• Your local last spring frost date is the single most important number in your Virginia planting schedule — look it up by ZIP, because elevation creates enormous variation across short distances.
• Tomatoes, peppers, and basil go out after your last frost date, not during warm April spells — cold soil stunts warm-season crops even without frost.
• Virginia’s fall garden is massively underused — cool-season crops planted in July and August produce abundantly from September through November and beyond.
• Succession plant cool-season crops every 3–4 weeks for continuous harvests across the full season.
• Zinnias, okra, sweet potatoes, and southern peas thrive in Virginia’s warm summers — lean into what the climate does naturally well.
• Soil temperature matters more than air temperature — use a thermometer, not just a calendar.

More State Planting Calendars

Florida Planting Calendar

Texas Planting Calendar

Arizona Planting Calendar

Ohio Planting Calendar

Michigan Planting Calendar

Frequently Asked Questions — Virginia Planting Dates

This guide draws on USDA hardiness zone data, Virginia Cooperative Extension publications, NOAA climate normals, and multi-year home garden observations across Virginia climate zones. Conditions vary by microclimate — always observe your specific site and adjust accordingly.