When to plant in Harrisonburg, VA
USDA Zone 7aHarrisonburg, Virginia frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 7a, Harrisonburg 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 Harrisonburg is now 10 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
DALE ENTERPRISE · 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 Harrisonburg’s own odds, recorded at DALE ENTERPRISE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | May 3 | Apr 19 | Sep 30 | Oct 13 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F | May 7 | Apr 21 | Apr 9 | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Apr 21 | Apr 9 | Mar 26 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
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 Harrisonburg, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 39 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.
Harrisonburg planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Harrisonburg, VA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Harrisonburg around April 21 (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 Harrisonburg, VA?
Expect Harrisonburg's first fall frost near October 23 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Harrisonburg in?
Harrisonburg 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 Harrisonburg?
Harrisonburg has about 185 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 21) and first fall frost (October 23).
When should I plant tomatoes in Harrisonburg?
For Harrisonburg, sow tomatoes indoors about February 24–March 10 and move the seedlings out around April 28, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Harrisonburg
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Harrisonburg’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Staunton · 35 km
- Waynesboro · 41 km
- Stuarts Draft · 49 km
- Charlottesville · 56 km
- Lake Monticello · 74 km
- Culpeper · 76 km
- Front Royal · 81 km
- Warrenton · 99 km
Frost dates recorded at DALE ENTERPRISE, 6 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 Harrisonburg, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00442208. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/harrisonburg.