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When to plant in Blacksburg, VA

USDA Zone 7a

Everything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Blacksburg, Virginia — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.

In zone 7a, Blacksburg supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.

Station · BLACKSBURG NWSO · 3.2 km
Last spring frost
April 24
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 19
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
178 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for BlacksburgA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Blacksburg: last spring frost around April 24, first fall frost around October 19, about 178 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average first fall frost in Blacksburg is now 10 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

BLACKSBURG NWSO · 1991–2020

The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Blacksburg’s own odds, recorded at BLACKSBURG NWSO.

Frost-probability curves for BlacksburgProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 19, giving about 178 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 24May 6Apr 21Sep 26Oct 8Oct 21
32°FMay 14Apr 24Apr 11Oct 6Oct 19Nov 1
28°FApr 27Apr 11Mar 28Oct 15Oct 29Nov 8

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 13July 27
Fall sowin 8 days
Broccoli
July 27August 10
Fall sowin 8 days
Cabbage
July 27August 10
Fall sowin 8 days
Carrot
July 27August 10
Fall sowin 8 days
Cauliflower
July 27August 10
Fall sowin 8 days
Napa Cabbage
July 27August 24
Fall sowin 22 days
Beet
August 10August 24
Fall sowin 22 days
Collards
August 10September 7
Fall sowin 22 days
Endive
August 10August 24
Fall sowin 22 days
Escarole
August 10August 24
Fall sowin 22 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 10August 24
Fall sowin 22 days
Kale
August 10September 7
Fall sowin 22 days
Kohlrabi
August 10September 7
Fall sowin 22 days
Peas
August 10August 24
Fall sowin 22 days
Radicchio
August 10August 24
Fall sowin 22 days
Swiss Chard
August 10August 24
Fall sowin 22 days
Turnip
August 10September 7

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Blacksburg, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 15 km · complete 32°F normals

When stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.

BLACKSBURG NWSO
Primary
3 km · 641 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 24
FALL
Oct 19
CHRISTIANSBURG
12 km · 640 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 19
FALL
Oct 23
RADFORD 3 N
15 km · 549 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 26
FALL
Oct 18

Blacksburg planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Blacksburg, VA?

On average, the last spring frost in Blacksburg is around April 24 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Blacksburg, VA?

In Blacksburg, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 19 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.

What hardiness zone is Blacksburg in?

Blacksburg is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Blacksburg?

Blacksburg has about 178 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 24) and first fall frost (October 19).

When should I plant tomatoes in Blacksburg?

For Blacksburg, sow tomatoes indoors about February 27–March 13 and move the seedlings out around May 1, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Blacksburg

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Blacksburg’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at BLACKSBURG NWSO, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Blacksburg, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00440766. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/blacksburg.
When to Plant in Blacksburg, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a — BlissGarden