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Frost dates and planting calendar for Harrisonburg, Virginia

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

USDA hardiness zone
7a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 21[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 23[3]
Growing season, median
182 days[4]

Harrisonburg, Virginia is in USDA hardiness zone 7a[1]. The median last spring frost is April 21 at the NOAA station used for this page[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 9, half of years Apr 21, 1 in 10 years after May 7Last frostmedian Apr 21First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 3, half of years Oct 23, 1 in 10 years before Oct 9First frostmedian Oct 23Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 24 to Apr 7Mar 24 to Apr 7Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 21around Apr 21Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 5from May 5
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.

These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Dale Enterprise weather station near Harrisonburg[5]. They are odds based on records from 1991 to 2020, not a forecast. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 21, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 7[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 23, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 9[3]. Any single year can be earlier or later.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 9 after April 21 after May 7
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 9 before October 23 before November 3
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 9, median first fall date November 1[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 161 days in 9 of 10 years, 182 days in half of years and 200 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: Dale Enterprise (USC00442208), 3.6 miles from the city center, 1,358 feet, 26 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension's planting guide was written for Colorado, so these dates are a starting point for Harrisonburg[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which is March 24 to April 7[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, which is April 7[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be planted from seed around April 21[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 5[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 21) is March 24 to April 7[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 21) is April 7, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 21[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 21), is May 5[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 28 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 24 Jun 17 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 13
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 23
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 24 Jul 12
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 28
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 24 Apr 23
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 3
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 13
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Jun 6
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Jun 16
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Jun 16
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Aug 10
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Jun 6
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 21 Jun 20
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 21 Jun 20
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 21 Jun 15
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 21 Jun 10
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 29
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 4 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 14 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 9 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 5 Aug 13
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 29
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

Zone 7a means the coldest night of the year averages 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The USDA zone is about winter lows, not summer heat or frost dates[14]. All of Harrisonburg's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a[15].

Zone 7a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 0°F to 5°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 1.8°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 7a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 7a and what zone 7a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
22801[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
22802[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
22807[15] 7a 0 to 5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Harrisonburg, Virginia?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Harrisonburg in zone 7a[1]. All of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated 7a[15].
When is the last frost in Harrisonburg?
The median last spring frost is April 21, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 7[2].
When is the first frost in Harrisonburg?
The median first fall frost is October 23[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 9[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Harrisonburg?
CSU Extension typically says very tender vegetables like tomatoes wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. For Harrisonburg that earliest start is May 5[11].
How long is the growing season in Harrisonburg?
The season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 182 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 161 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Harrisonburg, Virginia in zone 7a. Zone 7a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 1.8°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 9, in half of years after April 21, and in 1 of 10 years after May 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 21. 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 9, in half of years before October 23, and in 9 of 10 years before November 3 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 23. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 161 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 182 days in half of years, and at least 200 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Dale Enterprise weather station (USC00442208), 3.6 miles from the center of Harrisonburg at 1,358 feet, using 26 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 9 and the median first fall date is November 1. 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. Harrisonburg, Virginia overlaps 3 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a. 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.