When to plant in Virginia Beach, VA
USDA Zone 8bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Virginia Beach, Virginia — all computed from Virginia Beach's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 8b, Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
OCEANA 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 Virginia Beach’s own odds, recorded at OCEANA NAS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 27 | Apr 11 | Mar 28 | Oct 22 | Nov 2 | Nov 16 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Mar 29 | Mar 13 | Nov 1 | Nov 12 | Nov 30 |
| 28°F | Mar 31 | Mar 14 | Feb 26 | Nov 9 | Nov 25 | Dec 17 |
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 Virginia Beach, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 20 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.
Virginia Beach planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Virginia Beach, VA?
On average, the last spring frost in Virginia Beach is around March 29 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Virginia Beach, VA?
Expect Virginia Beach's first fall frost near November 12 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Virginia Beach in?
Virginia Beach is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach has about 228 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 29) and first fall frost (November 12).
When should I plant tomatoes in Virginia Beach?
For Virginia Beach, sow tomatoes indoors about February 1–February 15 and move the seedlings out around April 5, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Virginia Beach
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Virginia Beach’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Norfolk · 25 km
- Chesapeake · 27 km
- Portsmouth · 31 km
- Hampton · 38 km
- Poquoson · 46 km
- Suffolk · 55 km
- Newport News · 55 km
- Elizabeth City · 57 km
Frost dates recorded at OCEANA NAS, 4 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 Virginia Beach, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013769. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/virginia-beach.