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When to plant in Mechanicsville, VA

USDA Zone 7b

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Mechanicsville, Virginia — all computed from Mechanicsville's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 7b, Mechanicsville supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.

Station · ASHLAND HANOVER CO MUNI AP · 11.2 km
Last spring frost
April 10
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 31
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
204 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for MechanicsvilleA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Mechanicsville: last spring frost around April 10, first fall frost around October 31, about 204 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

ASHLAND HANOVER CO MUNI AP · 1991–2020

The 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 Mechanicsville’s own odds, recorded at ASHLAND HANOVER CO MUNI AP.

Frost-probability curves for MechanicsvilleProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 10 and the first fall frost around October 31, giving about 204 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 10Apr 23Apr 8Oct 8Oct 21Nov 2
32°FApr 29Apr 10Mar 27Oct 17Oct 31Nov 13
28°FApr 11Mar 28Mar 12Oct 29Nov 11Nov 30

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Brussels Sprouts
July 11July 25
Fall sowin 6 days
Rutabaga
July 25August 8
Fall sowin 20 days
Broccoli
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Cabbage
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Carrot
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Cauliflower
August 8August 22
Fall sowin 20 days
Napa Cabbage
August 8September 5

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Mechanicsville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 14 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

ASHLAND HANOVER CO MUNI AP
Primary
11 km · 63 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 10
FALL
Oct 31
SANDSTON
12 km · 50 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 7
FALL
Nov 1
RICHMOND INTL AP
14 km · 50 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 3
FALL
Nov 4

Mechanicsville planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Mechanicsville, VA?

Mechanicsville's average last spring frost falls near April 10 — 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 Mechanicsville, VA?

In Mechanicsville, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 31 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.

What hardiness zone is Mechanicsville in?

Mechanicsville 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 Mechanicsville?

Mechanicsville has about 204 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 10) and first fall frost (October 31).

When should I plant tomatoes in Mechanicsville?

For Mechanicsville, sow tomatoes indoors about February 13–February 27 and move the seedlings out around April 17, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Mechanicsville

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Mechanicsville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at ASHLAND HANOVER CO MUNI AP, 11 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Mechanicsville, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093775. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/mechanicsville.
When to Plant in Mechanicsville, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b — BlissGarden