When to plant in Bristol, VA
USDA Zone 7aBristol, Virginia frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 18 km from Bristol, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. In zone 7a, Bristol supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
ABINGDON 3S · 1991–2020The 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 Bristol’s own odds, recorded at ABINGDON 3S.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 20 | May 4 | Apr 18 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F | May 10 | Apr 21 | Apr 5 | Oct 8 | Oct 20 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Apr 7 | Mar 23 | Oct 16 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Bristol, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 30 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen 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.
Bristol planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bristol, VA?
On average, the last spring frost in Bristol is around April 21 (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 Bristol, VA?
Expect Bristol's first fall frost near October 20 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Bristol in?
Bristol 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 Bristol?
Bristol has about 182 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 21) and first fall frost (October 20).
When should I plant tomatoes in Bristol?
For Bristol, sow tomatoes indoors about February 24–March 10 and move the seedlings out around April 28, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Bristol
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bristol’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Bristol · 8 km
- Elizabethton · 32 km
- Kingsport · 36 km
- Johnson City · 36 km
- Boone · 63 km
- Greeneville · 77 km
- Lenoir · 97 km
- Morganton · 106 km
Frost dates recorded at ABINGDON 3S, 18 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Bristol, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00440021. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/bristol.