When to plant in Norfolk, VA
USDA Zone 8bNorfolk, Virginia frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
A generous ~255-day season lets Norfolk gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 8b, Norfolk 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 Norfolk is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
NORFOLK NAS · 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 Norfolk’s own odds, recorded at NORFOLK NAS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 10 | Mar 29 | Mar 12 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 | Nov 29 |
| 32°F | Apr 1 | Mar 16 | Feb 26 | Nov 8 | Nov 26 | Dec 17 |
| 28°F | Mar 19 | Mar 2 | Feb 9 | Nov 21 | Dec 12 | Jan 5 |
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 Norfolk, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 6 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.
Norfolk planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Norfolk, VA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Norfolk around March 16 (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 Norfolk, VA?
The first fall frost in Norfolk typically arrives around November 26 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Norfolk in?
Norfolk is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Norfolk?
Norfolk has about 255 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 16) and first fall frost (November 26).
When should I plant tomatoes in Norfolk?
For Norfolk, sow tomatoes indoors about January 19–February 2 and move the seedlings out around March 23, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Norfolk
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Norfolk’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Portsmouth · 12 km
- Hampton · 15 km
- Poquoson · 23 km
- Virginia Beach · 25 km
- Chesapeake · 28 km
- Newport News · 30 km
- Suffolk · 43 km
- Gloucester Point · 45 km
Frost dates recorded at NORFOLK NAS, 5 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 Norfolk, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013750. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/norfolk.