When to plant in Franklin Farm, VA
USDA Zone 7bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Franklin Farm, Virginia — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 7b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Franklin Farm, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average first fall frost in Franklin Farm is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
WASHINGTON DC DULLES AP · 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 Franklin Farm’s own odds, recorded at WASHINGTON DC DULLES AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 17 | Apr 29 | Apr 12 | Oct 2 | Oct 14 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Mar 31 | Oct 10 | Oct 24 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Apr 16 | Apr 1 | Mar 18 | Oct 21 | Nov 4 | 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 Franklin Farm, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 11 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.
Franklin Farm planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Franklin Farm, VA?
Franklin Farm's average last spring frost falls near April 15 — 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 Franklin Farm, VA?
Expect Franklin Farm's first fall frost near October 24 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Franklin Farm in?
Franklin Farm 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 Franklin Farm?
There are roughly 192 frost-free days in Franklin Farm (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 15 to the first fall frost near October 24.
When should I plant tomatoes in Franklin Farm?
In Franklin Farm, start tomato seeds indoors around February 18–March 4, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 22 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Franklin Farm
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Franklin Farm’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Chantilly · 5 km
- McNair · 5 km
- Fair Oaks · 6 km
- Reston · 6 km
- Herndon · 7 km
- Oakton · 8 km
- Centreville · 9 km
- Dranesville · 10 km
Frost dates recorded at WASHINGTON DC DULLES AP, 7 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 Franklin Farm, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093738. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/franklin-farm.