When to plant in Dale City, VA
USDA Zone 7bDale City, Virginia frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
These dates come from a station roughly 16 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Dale City (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 7b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Dale City, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
MANASSAS · 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 Dale City’s own odds, recorded at MANASSAS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 10 | Apr 24 | Apr 11 | Oct 6 | Oct 18 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | Apr 12 | Mar 30 | Oct 13 | Oct 27 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 14 | Apr 1 | Mar 17 | Oct 24 | Nov 5 | Nov 19 |
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 Dale City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 27 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.
Dale City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Dale City, VA?
Dale City's average last spring frost falls near April 12 — 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 Dale City, VA?
Expect Dale City's first fall frost near October 27 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Dale City in?
Dale City 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 Dale City?
There are roughly 198 frost-free days in Dale City (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 12 to the first fall frost near October 27.
When should I plant tomatoes in Dale City?
In Dale City, start tomato seeds indoors around February 15–March 1, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 19 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Dale City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Dale City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Montclair · 4 km
- Lake Ridge · 5 km
- Independent Hill · 7 km
- Leesylvania · 7 km
- Woodbridge · 8 km
- Cherry Hill · 11 km
- Buckhall · 11 km
- Triangle · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at MANASSAS, 16 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 Dale City, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00445204. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/dale-city.