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

Planting zone for Lorton, VA

Lorton, VA is in USDA zone 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost November 8.

Lorton on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 28
First frostNov 8
Growing season226 days

7b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lorton, 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 Lorton, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 8median — 10% chance by Oct 28
Growing season226 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 22.

From the NOAA station Quantico Mcas, VA, elevation 10 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 Lorton

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 13 – Sep 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 25 – Nov 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 28) and first fall frost (Nov 8) 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 22199 came on Mar 10 — about the same time as 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 7b in Virginia

629 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 89

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 133

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 200

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 181

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 Lorton, VA.

Soil in Lorton, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 22199 is Kingstowne — sandy clay loam, well drained.

TextureSandy clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kingstowne-Sassafras-Marumsco complex, 7 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 22199; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lorton, VA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights99nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,472base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 27 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
Snowfall13 inper year; 12 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 67 °F 84°67° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 65 °F 82°65° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.10 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 3.1❄5 JanFebruary: 2.83 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 2.8❄4 FebMarch: 3.82 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 3.8❄3 MarApril: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 SepOctober: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.31 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.3 NovDecember: 3.80 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 3.8❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vienna, VA (14 mi away); precipitation: Franconia 1.3 Sse, VA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Lorton

220797b
5 to 10 °F
221997b
5 to 10 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Lorton

What planting zone is Lorton, VA?

Lorton, VA is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Lorton, VA?

The median last spring frost is March 28 and the median first fall frost is November 8 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Quantico Mcas station).

When can I plant a garden in Lorton, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 14 – Mar 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Lorton, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Lorton, VA get?

About 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 13 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).