Frost dates for Norfolk, VA
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
March 17
typical year
Safe to plant
March 31
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 23
typical year
Growing season
252 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | – |
| Spinach | – | Feb 3 – 24 | Sep 28 – Oct 12 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 17 – Mar 10 | Sep 28 – Oct 12 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 17 – Mar 31 | Oct 12 – 26 |
| Onions | – | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 24 – Mar 17 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Beets | – | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Kale | Jan 6 – 20 | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Broccoli | Jan 6 – 20 | Mar 3 – 17 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Cabbage | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 12 – Nov 2 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 3 – 17 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 7 – 21 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 31 – Apr 28 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 31 – Sep 14 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 31 – Apr 28 | – |
| Basil | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 7 – 14 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | March 31 | March 17 | February 27 |
| Fall frost before | November 8 | November 23 | December 10 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around March 4 (March 20 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 8.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station NORFOLK INTL AP, VA US (USW00013737), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 3 zip codes, all within 3 miles:
23455, 23459, 23518
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.