When to Plant Tomatoes in Virginia
In Virginia, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Mar 23 – Apr 6 in Norfolk to May 3 – May 17 in Radford. In Virginia Beach, it's Apr 5 – Apr 19. 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.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in Virginia by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 8a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Blacksburg | 7a | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 1 – May 15 |
| Bristol | 7a | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Charlottesville | 7b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Chesapeake | 8a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Christiansburg | 7a | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Colonial Heights | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Culpeper | 7a | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Danville | 7b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Fairfax | 7b | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Falls Church | 7b | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Fredericksburg | 7b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Front Royal | 7a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Hampton | 8b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Harrisonburg | 7a | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Herndon | 7b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Hopewell | 7b | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Leesburg | 7b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Lynchburg | 7b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Manassas | 7a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Manassas Park | 7a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Martinsville | 7b | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 1 – May 15 |
| Newport News | 8a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Norfolk | 8b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Petersburg | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Poquoson | 8b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Portsmouth | 8b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Radford | 7a | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Richmond | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Roanoke | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Salem | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Smithfield | 8a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Staunton | 7a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Suffolk | 8a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Vienna | 7b | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Virginia Beach | 8b | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Warrenton | 7a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Waynesboro | 7a | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Williamsburg | 8a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Winchester | 7a | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
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 tomatoes.
Getting beds ready? Work out how much raised bed soil, compost or mulch you need with our sister site, Yard Coverage.