When to plant in Gainesville, VA
USDA Zone 7aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Gainesville, Virginia — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Gainesville, 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 Gainesville’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 Gainesville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 23 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.
Gainesville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Gainesville, VA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Gainesville around April 12 (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 Gainesville, VA?
Expect Gainesville'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 Gainesville in?
Gainesville is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Gainesville?
There are roughly 198 frost-free days in Gainesville (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 Gainesville?
In Gainesville, 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 Gainesville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Gainesville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Linton Hall · 7 km
- New Baltimore · 9 km
- Bull Run · 11 km
- Sudley · 12 km
- Manassas · 15 km
- Warrenton · 16 km
- Stone Ridge · 16 km
- South Riding · 17 km
Frost dates recorded at MANASSAS, 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 Gainesville, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00445204. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/gainesville.