Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 23551 (Norfolk, 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 NAS, VA (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)255 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 (32 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 (32 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 23551 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 1 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 Oct 1–22
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 1–22
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 1–29
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 26: 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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 1 |
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 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 17 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 29 | Nov 14 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 16 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 2 | Dec 12 |
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 23551
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 16) and first fall frost (Nov 26). 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 19–Feb 2 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 5–19 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 5–19 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 23–Mar 16 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–22 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 16 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–23 (transplant) Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 9–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 19–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 16–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 16–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 16–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 16–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 16–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Mar 23–30 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 2–16 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (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 NAS, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013750), elevation 17 ft, 1.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk S, VA | 5 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 16 |
| Norfolk Intl AP, VA | 6 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| Langley AFB, VA | 11 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 23551
When is the last frost in 23551?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 23551 is March 16. For a more cautious planting date, use April 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 23551?
The average first fall freeze is November 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 8.
What hardiness zone is 23551?
ZIP 23551 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 23551 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
23505 Norfolk 23511 Norfolk 23503 Norfolk 23508 Norfolk 23509 Norfolk 23517 Norfolk 23513 Norfolk 23507 Norfolk
Other ZIP codes in Norfolk city
23502 23503 23504 23505 23507 23508 23509 23510 23511 23513 23517 23518 23523 All Norfolk city frost dates · Virginia frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.