When to plant in Herndon, VA
USDA Zone 7bHerndon, 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 Herndon, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average first fall frost in Herndon 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 Herndon’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 Herndon, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 12 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.
Herndon planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Herndon, VA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Herndon around April 15 (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 Herndon, VA?
The first fall frost in Herndon typically arrives around October 24 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Herndon in?
Herndon 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 Herndon?
There are roughly 192 frost-free days in Herndon (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 Herndon?
In Herndon, 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 Herndon
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Herndon’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- McNair · 3 km
- Dranesville · 3 km
- Sterling · 4 km
- Reston · 4 km
- Franklin Farm · 7 km
- Sugarland Run · 7 km
- Cascades · 9 km
- Great Falls · 9 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 Herndon, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093738. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/herndon.