When to plant in Charlottesville, VA
USDA Zone 7bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Charlottesville, Virginia — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 7b, Charlottesville supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
CHARLOTTESVILLE 2W · 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 Charlottesville’s own odds, recorded at CHARLOTTESVILLE 2W.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 28 | Apr 12 | Mar 31 | Oct 16 | Oct 29 | Nov 13 |
| 32°F | Apr 14 | Apr 2 | Mar 16 | Oct 29 | Nov 10 | Nov 28 |
| 28°F | Apr 4 | Mar 22 | Mar 3 | Nov 6 | Nov 22 | Dec 11 |
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 Charlottesville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 5 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.
Charlottesville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Charlottesville, VA?
Charlottesville's average last spring frost falls near April 2 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Charlottesville, VA?
Expect Charlottesville's first fall frost near November 10 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Charlottesville in?
Charlottesville is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. In zone 7b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Charlottesville?
Charlottesville has about 222 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 2) and first fall frost (November 10).
When should I plant tomatoes in Charlottesville?
For Charlottesville, sow tomatoes indoors about February 5–February 19 and move the seedlings out around April 9, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Charlottesville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Charlottesville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lake Monticello · 19 km
- Waynesboro · 37 km
- Stuarts Draft · 48 km
- Staunton · 52 km
- Harrisonburg · 56 km
- Culpeper · 64 km
- Madison Heights · 85 km
- Wyndham · 86 km
Frost dates recorded at CHARLOTTESVILLE 2W, 3 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 Charlottesville, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00441593. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/charlottesville.