When to Plant Potatoes in Virginia
In Virginia, the time to plant potatoes outside runs from Feb 23 – Mar 9 in Norfolk to Apr 5 – Apr 19 in Radford. In Virginia Beach, it's Mar 8 – Mar 22. 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.
Plant seed potatoes a few weeks before the last frost; cover any shoots if a late frost threatens.
- Plant outside: 1–3 weeks before the last frost.
Potatoes planting dates in Virginia by city
| City | Zone | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 8a | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Blacksburg | 7a | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Bristol | 7a | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Charlottesville | 7b | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Chesapeake | 8a | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Christiansburg | 7a | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Colonial Heights | 7b | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Culpeper | 7a | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Danville | 7b | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Fairfax | 7b | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Falls Church | 7b | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Fredericksburg | 7b | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Front Royal | 7a | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Hampton | 8b | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Harrisonburg | 7a | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Herndon | 7b | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Hopewell | 7b | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Leesburg | 7b | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Lynchburg | 7b | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Manassas | 7a | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Manassas Park | 7a | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Martinsville | 7b | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Newport News | 8a | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Norfolk | 8b | Feb 23 – Mar 9 |
| Petersburg | 7b | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Poquoson | 8b | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Portsmouth | 8b | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Radford | 7a | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Richmond | 7b | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Roanoke | 7b | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Salem | 7b | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Smithfield | 8a | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Staunton | 7a | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Suffolk | 8a | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Vienna | 7b | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Virginia Beach | 8b | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Warrenton | 7a | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Waynesboro | 7a | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Williamsburg | 8a | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Winchester | 7a | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
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 potatoes.
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