Virginia Beach, VA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Virginia Beach garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 29
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 12
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
228 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
8a
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 13 Mar 29 Apr 11
First fall frost Nov 30 Nov 12 Nov 1
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 14 · first Nov 25

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Oceana NAS station (6 km from central Virginia Beach). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Virginia Beach

Computed from Virginia Beach's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-8 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 1 – Feb 15 Apr 5 – Apr 12
🫑 Peppers Jan 18 – Feb 1 Apr 12 – Apr 19
🥬 Lettuce Feb 15 – Mar 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15 Mar 1 – Mar 29
🫛 Peas Feb 15 – Mar 1
🥕 Carrots Mar 8 – Mar 29
🥦 Broccoli Feb 8 – Feb 22 Mar 8 – Mar 22
🥬 Kale Feb 15 – Mar 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15 Mar 1 – Mar 15
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 1 – Mar 8 Apr 5 – Apr 12 Apr 5 – Apr 12
🥒 Zucchini Mar 1 – Mar 8 Apr 5 – Apr 12 Apr 5 – Apr 12
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 5 – Apr 12
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 5 – Apr 12
🌿 Basil Feb 15 – Mar 1 Apr 5 – Apr 12 Apr 12 – Apr 19
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 1 – Oct 29

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Virginia Beach's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Virginia Beach

With roughly 228 frost-free days, Virginia Beach gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 12 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Virginia Beach, VA?

The average last spring frost in Virginia Beach is around Mar 29, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Virginia Beach, VA?

The average first fall frost in Virginia Beach arrives around Nov 12. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Virginia Beach?

About 228 frost-free days on average, from Mar 29 to Nov 12. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Virginia Beach in?

USDA zone 8a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.