When to plant in Sterling, VA
USDA Zone 7bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Sterling, Virginia — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 7b, Sterling 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 Sterling is now 10 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
WFO STERLING · 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 Sterling’s own odds, recorded at WFO STERLING.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 16 | Apr 28 | Apr 10 | Oct 3 | Oct 16 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | May 1 | Apr 13 | Mar 29 | Oct 11 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 14 | Mar 31 | Mar 15 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 | Nov 22 |
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 Sterling, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Sterling planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Sterling, VA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Sterling around April 13 (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 Sterling, VA?
The first fall frost in Sterling typically arrives around October 26 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Sterling in?
Sterling 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 Sterling?
Sterling has about 196 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 13) and first fall frost (October 26).
When should I plant tomatoes in Sterling?
For Sterling, sow tomatoes indoors about February 16–March 2 and move the seedlings out around April 20, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Sterling
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Sterling’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Dranesville · 3 km
- Herndon · 4 km
- Sugarland Run · 5 km
- Cascades · 5 km
- McNair · 6 km
- Ashburn · 6 km
- Lowes Island · 7 km
- Reston · 8 km
Frost dates recorded at WFO STERLING, 8 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 Sterling, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00448084. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/sterling.