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

Planting zone for Fredericksburg, VA

Fredericksburg, VA is in USDA zones 7a to 7b across its 9 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost November 1.

Fredericksburg on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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.

Zones7a–7b0 to 10 °F
ZIP codes9
Last frostApr 6
First frostNov 1
Growing season207 days

7a 4 ZIPs   7b 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fredericksburg, 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 Fredericksburg, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 19
Growing season207 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 27 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, elevation 59 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 Fredericksburg

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 6) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 22402 came on Mar 9 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7).

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 Fredericksburg, VA.

Soil in Fredericksburg, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 22402 is Dogue — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dogue loam.

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 22402; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fredericksburg, VA

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days41days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights101nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,097base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 30 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation43.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall11 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 25 °F 46°25° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 35 °F 59°35° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.72 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 2.7❄4 JanFebruary: 2.50 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 2.5❄5 FebMarch: 3.96 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.0 MarApril: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 4.82 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 3.19 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 3.2❄2 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Fredericksburg

224017b
5 to 10 °F
224027b
5 to 10 °F
224037a
0 to 5 °F
224047b
5 to 10 °F
224057b
5 to 10 °F
224067a
0 to 5 °F
224077a
0 to 5 °F
224087b
5 to 10 °F
224127a
0 to 5 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Fredericksburg

What planting zone is Fredericksburg, VA?

Fredericksburg, VA is in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F; 7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Fredericksburg, VA?

The median last spring frost is April 6 and the median first fall frost is November 1 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fredericksburg Sewage station).

When can I plant a garden in Fredericksburg, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 23 – Mar 16; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 13, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Fredericksburg, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 50 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Fredericksburg, VA get?

About 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 11 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).