When to plant in Short Pump, VA
USDA Zone 7bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Short Pump, Virginia — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 16 km from Short Pump, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. In zone 7b, Short Pump supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
ASHLAND · 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 Short Pump’s own odds, recorded at ASHLAND.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 10 | Apr 24 | Apr 9 | Oct 7 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Apr 30 | Apr 10 | Mar 28 | Oct 16 | Oct 29 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F | Apr 12 | Mar 30 | Mar 15 | Oct 26 | Nov 8 | Nov 25 |
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 Short Pump, 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.
Short Pump planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Short Pump, VA?
Short Pump'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 Short Pump, VA?
Expect Short Pump's first fall frost near October 29 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Short Pump in?
Short Pump 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 Short Pump?
Short Pump has about 202 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 10) and first fall frost (October 29).
When should I plant tomatoes in Short Pump?
For Short Pump, sow tomatoes indoors about February 13–February 27 and move the seedlings out around April 17, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Short Pump
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Short Pump’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Wyndham · 4 km
- Tuckahoe · 8 km
- Laurel · 10 km
- Glen Allen · 12 km
- Lakeside · 13 km
- Bon Air · 16 km
- Richmond · 19 km
- Midlothian · 19 km
Frost dates recorded at ASHLAND, 16 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 Short Pump, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00440327. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/short-pump.