When to plant in Chesapeake, VA
USDA Zone 8aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Chesapeake, Virginia — all computed from Chesapeake's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Chesapeake, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
FENTRESS NAAS · 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 Chesapeake’s own odds, recorded at FENTRESS NAAS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 18 | Apr 3 | Mar 19 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 | Nov 24 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Mar 23 | Mar 5 | Nov 4 | Nov 18 | Dec 7 |
| 28°F | Mar 27 | Mar 10 | Feb 17 | Nov 14 | Dec 2 | Dec 31 |
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 Chesapeake, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 22 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.
Chesapeake planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Chesapeake, VA?
Chesapeake's average last spring frost falls near March 23 — 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 Chesapeake, VA?
The first fall frost in Chesapeake typically arrives around November 18 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Chesapeake in?
Chesapeake is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Chesapeake?
There are roughly 240 frost-free days in Chesapeake (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 23 to the first fall frost near November 18.
When should I plant tomatoes in Chesapeake?
In Chesapeake, start tomato seeds indoors around January 26–February 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 30 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Chesapeake
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Chesapeake’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Portsmouth · 21 km
- Virginia Beach · 27 km
- Norfolk · 28 km
- Suffolk · 30 km
- Hampton · 41 km
- Elizabeth City · 43 km
- Newport News · 48 km
- Poquoson · 50 km
Frost dates recorded at FENTRESS NAAS, 15 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 Chesapeake, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013762. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/chesapeake.