When to Plant Peppers in Virginia
In Virginia, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Mar 30 – Apr 13 in Norfolk to May 10 – May 24 in Radford. In Virginia Beach, it's Apr 12 – Apr 26. The average last spring frost differs by about 6 weeks across the state (Mar 16 in Norfolk, Apr 26 in Radford), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Virginia by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 8a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Blacksburg | 7a | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Bristol | 7a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Charlottesville | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Chesapeake | 8a | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Christiansburg | 7a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Colonial Heights | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Culpeper | 7a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Danville | 7b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Fairfax | 7b | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Falls Church | 7b | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Fredericksburg | 7b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Front Royal | 7a | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Hampton | 8b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Harrisonburg | 7a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Herndon | 7b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Hopewell | 7b | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Leesburg | 7b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Lynchburg | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | May 1 – May 15 |
| Manassas | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Manassas Park | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Martinsville | 7b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Newport News | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Norfolk | 8b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Petersburg | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Poquoson | 8b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Portsmouth | 8b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Radford | 7a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Richmond | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Roanoke | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Salem | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Smithfield | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Staunton | 7a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Suffolk | 8a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Vienna | 7b | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Virginia Beach | 8b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Warrenton | 7a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Waynesboro | 7a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Williamsburg | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Winchester | 7a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Virginia, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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