When to plant in Winchester, VA
USDA Zone 7aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Winchester, Virginia — all computed from Winchester's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Winchester, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
WINCHESTER · 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 Winchester’s own odds, recorded at WINCHESTER.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 11 | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Oct 5 | Oct 18 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | Apr 29 | Apr 11 | Mar 30 | Oct 14 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 |
| 28°F | Apr 12 | Mar 31 | Mar 15 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 | 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 Winchester, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 25 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.
Winchester planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Winchester, VA?
Winchester's average last spring frost falls near April 11 — 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 Winchester, VA?
In Winchester, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 29 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Winchester in?
Winchester is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Winchester?
There are roughly 201 frost-free days in Winchester (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 11 to the first fall frost near October 29.
When should I plant tomatoes in Winchester?
In Winchester, start tomato seeds indoors around February 14–February 28, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 18 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Winchester
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Winchester’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Front Royal · 28 km
- Martinsburg · 36 km
- Leesburg · 54 km
- Brambleton · 60 km
- Broadlands · 60 km
- Halfway · 60 km
- Stone Ridge · 60 km
- Warrenton · 60 km
Frost dates recorded at WINCHESTER, 3 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 Winchester, VA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00449181. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/virginia/winchester.