When to plant in Fairfax, VA
USDA Zone 7bFairfax, Virginia frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 7b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Fairfax, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
VIENNA · 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 Fairfax’s own odds, recorded at VIENNA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 10 | Apr 25 | Apr 11 | Oct 7 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Apr 28 | Apr 14 | Mar 30 | Oct 17 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 |
| 28°F | Apr 16 | Apr 2 | Mar 18 | Oct 26 | Nov 8 | Nov 23 |
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 Fairfax, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 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.
Fairfax planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fairfax, VA?
On average, the last spring frost in Fairfax is around April 14 (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 Fairfax, VA?
In Fairfax, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 29 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Fairfax in?
Fairfax 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 Fairfax?
There are roughly 198 frost-free days in Fairfax (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 14 to the first fall frost near October 29.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fairfax?
In Fairfax, start tomato seeds indoors around February 17–March 3, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 21 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fairfax
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fairfax’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Oakton · 4 km
- Kings Park West · 4 km
- Fair Oaks · 5 km
- Merrifield · 6 km
- Wakefield · 6 km
- Vienna · 6 km
- Burke Centre · 7 km
- Fairfax Station · 7 km
Frost dates recorded at VIENNA, 4 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 Fairfax, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00448737. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/fairfax.