Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Abingdon, VA

Abingdon, VA is in USDA zone 7a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 20.

Abingdon on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostApr 21
First frostOct 20
Growing season182 days

7a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Abingdon, VA…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Abingdon, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 7 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Abingdon 3s, VA, elevation 1,926 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Abingdon

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 20) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 24212 came on Mar 6 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 9).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 7a in Virginia

618 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 87

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 129

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 197

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 179

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Abingdon, VA.

Soil in Abingdon, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24212 is Frederick — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Frederick silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 24212; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Abingdon, VA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights108nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,501base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 40 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 39 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 FebMarch: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Abingdon 3s, VA (2 mi away); precipitation: Abingdon 3s, VA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Abingdon

242107a
0 to 5 °F
242117a
0 to 5 °F
242127a
0 to 5 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Abingdon

What planting zone is Abingdon, VA?

Abingdon, VA is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Abingdon, VA?

The median last spring frost is April 21 and the median first fall frost is October 20 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Abingdon 3s station).

When can I plant a garden in Abingdon, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 10 – Mar 31; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 28, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Abingdon, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 40 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Abingdon, VA get?

About 47.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).