When to plant in Forest, VA
USDA Zone 7bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Forest, Virginia — all computed from Forest's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 7b, Forest supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
The average first fall frost in Forest is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
LYNCHBURG #2 · 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 Forest’s own odds, recorded at LYNCHBURG #2.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 15 | Apr 30 | Apr 16 | Oct 4 | Oct 15 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | May 4 | Apr 17 | Apr 3 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Apr 15 | Apr 2 | Mar 18 | Oct 20 | Nov 3 | Nov 18 |
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 Forest, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 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.
Forest planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Forest, VA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Forest around April 17 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Forest, VA?
Expect Forest's first fall frost near October 25 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Forest in?
Forest 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 Forest?
Forest has about 191 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 17) and first fall frost (October 25).
When should I plant tomatoes in Forest?
For Forest, sow tomatoes indoors about February 20–March 6 and move the seedlings out around April 24, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Forest
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Forest’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Timberlake · 7 km
- Lynchburg · 8 km
- Madison Heights · 17 km
- Hollins · 60 km
- Roanoke · 61 km
- Cave Spring · 67 km
- Salem · 70 km
- Stuarts Draft · 75 km
Frost dates recorded at LYNCHBURG #2, 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 Forest, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00445117. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/forest.