Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 23459 (Virginia Beach, VA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Norfolk Intl AP, VA (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)252 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 55°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cape Charles 5 ENE (29 mi).
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cape Charles 5 ENE (29 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 23459 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 2 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 19
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 19
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 26
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 23: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 27 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 17 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 31 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 8 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 23 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 30 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 4 | Dec 8 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 23459
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 17) and first fall frost (Nov 23). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 6–20 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 6–20 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Feb 24–Mar 17 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 19 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Feb 17–Mar 17 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 6–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 6–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 6–20 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–24 (transplant) Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 10–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 20–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Aug 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 17–24 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 17–24 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 17–24 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 17–24 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 17–24 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Mar 24–31 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 3–17 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 6–20 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Norfolk Intl AP, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013737), elevation 30 ft, 1.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk S, VA | 4 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 16 |
| Norfolk NAS, VA | 7 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 26 |
| Oceana NAS, VA | 10 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 23459
When is the last frost in 23459?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 23459 is March 17. For a more cautious planting date, use March 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 23459?
The average first fall freeze is November 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 8.
What hardiness zone is 23459?
ZIP 23459 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 23459 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
23518 Norfolk 23455 Virginia Beach 23513 Norfolk 23502 Norfolk 23509 Norfolk 23503 Norfolk 23462 Virginia Beach 23452 Virginia Beach
Other ZIP codes in Virginia Beach city
23451 23452 23453 23454 23455 23456 23457 23460 23461 23462 23464 All Virginia Beach city frost dates · Virginia frost dates
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