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

Planting zone for Portsmouth, VA

Portsmouth, VA is in USDA zones 8a to 8b across its 8 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost November 16.

Portsmouth on the zone map

Outlined: its 7 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.

Zones8a–8b10 to 20 °F
ZIP codes8
Last frostMar 23
First frostNov 16
Growing season239 days

8a 2 ZIPs   8b 6 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season239 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 10 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Norfolk S, 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 Portsmouth

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 21 – Oct 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 2 – Dec 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 16) 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 23707 came on Feb 26 — 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16).

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 8a in Virginia

646 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 92

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 138

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 203

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 187

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 Portsmouth, VA.

Soil in Portsmouth, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23707 is Altavista — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Altavista-Urban land complex, 0 to 3 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 23707; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Portsmouth, VA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days35days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights51nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,735base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 38 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 34 °F 52°34° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 66 °F 84°66° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 71 °F 88°71° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 70 °F 86°70° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 65 °F 80°65° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 43 °F 60°43° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 JanFebruary: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 FebMarch: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 5.62 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 5.96 in precipitation 6.0 JulAugust: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 AugSeptember: 6.07 in precipitation 6.1 SepOctober: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Norfolk S, VA (6 mi away); precipitation: Portsmouth 4.1 Sse, VA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Portsmouth

237018a
10 to 15 °F
237028a
10 to 15 °F
237038b
15 to 20 °F
237048b
15 to 20 °F
237058b
15 to 20 °F
237078b
15 to 20 °F
237088b
15 to 20 °F
237098b
15 to 20 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Portsmouth

What planting zone is Portsmouth, VA?

Portsmouth, VA is in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F; 8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Portsmouth, VA?

The median last spring frost is March 23 and the median first fall frost is November 16 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norfolk S station).

When can I plant a garden in Portsmouth, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 9 – Mar 2; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 30, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Portsmouth, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Portsmouth, VA get?

About 54 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).