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Frost dates and planting calendar for Chesapeake, Virginia

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
8a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 20[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 27[3]
Growing season, median
190 days[4]

Chesapeake, Virginia sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a[1]. The median last spring frost at the nearest NOAA station is April 20[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 2, half of years Apr 20, 1 in 10 years after May 9Last frostmedian Apr 20First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 7, half of years Oct 27, 1 in 10 years before Oct 17First frostmedian Oct 27Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 20around Apr 20Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 4from May 4
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

NOAA frost dates for Chesapeake come from the Wallaceton-Lake Drummond station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. The median last spring frost is April 20, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years the last frost comes after May 9[2]. In the fall, the median first frost is October 27, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 17[3]. These are odds from past records and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 2 after April 20 after May 9
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 17 before October 27 before November 7
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 7, median first fall date November 4[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 165 days in 9 of 10 years, 190 days in half of years and 211 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Wallaceton-Lake Drummond (USC00448837), 9.6 miles from the city center, 20 feet, 15 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension has a vegetable planting guide that was written for Colorado[6]. It groups vegetables by how they handle cold, and GardenFacts uses the median last frost of April 20 as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is March 23 to April 6[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before, which is April 6[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can start from seed around April 20[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so the earliest start is May 4[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 20) is March 23 to April 6[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 20) is April 6, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 20[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 20), is May 4[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 23 May 27 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 23 Jun 16 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 23 May 12
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 23 May 22
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 23 Jul 11
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 23 May 27
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 23 Apr 22
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 23 May 2
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 23 May 12
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 6 Jun 5
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 6 Jun 15
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 6 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 6 Jun 15
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 6 Aug 9
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 6 Jun 5
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 20 Jun 19
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 20 Jun 19
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 20 Jun 14
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 20 Jun 9
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 4 Jul 28
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 4 Jul 3 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 4 Jul 13 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 4 Jul 8 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 4 Aug 12
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 4 Jul 28
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The USDA zone is based on the average coldest night of each winter from 1991 to 2020, and not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Zone 8a means an average coldest night of 10°F to 15°F[1]. All of Chesapeake's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a, so the city does not span more than one zone[15].

Zone 8a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 10°F to 15°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 12.6°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 8a and what zone 8a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
23322[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
23323[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
23320[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
23321[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
23324[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
23325[15] 8a 10 to 15°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Chesapeake, Virginia?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Chesapeake in zone 8a[1]. All of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a[15].
When is the last frost in Chesapeake?
The median last spring frost is April 20, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 9[2].
When is the first frost in Chesapeake?
The median first fall frost is October 27[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 17[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Chesapeake?
CSU Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. Using April 20 as the median, the earliest start is May 4[11].
How long is the growing season in Chesapeake?
The growing season is at least 190 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 165 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Chesapeake, Virginia in zone 8a. Zone 8a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 10°F to 15°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 12.6°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 2, in half of years after April 20, and in 1 of 10 years after May 9 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 20. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 17, in half of years before October 27, and in 9 of 10 years before November 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 27. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 165 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 190 days in half of years, and at least 211 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Wallaceton-Lake Drummond weather station (USC00448837), 9.6 miles from the center of Chesapeake at 20 feet, using 15 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 7 and the median first fall date is November 4. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Chesapeake, Virginia overlaps 6 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.