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

Planting zone for Salem, VA

Salem, VA is in USDA zone 7b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 3 and the first fall frost November 1.

Salem 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 codes3
Last frostApr 3
First frostNov 1
Growing season210 days

7b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Salem, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 18
Growing season210 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 22 and returns around November 12.

From the NOAA station Roanoke Regional Airport, VA, elevation 1,175 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 Salem

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
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 3) 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 24155 came on Mar 2 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 4).

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 Salem, VA.

Soil in Salem, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24155 is Wheeling — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Wheeling-Urban land complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes, rarely flooded.

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 24155; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Salem, VA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days30days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights77nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,276base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.9 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 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° 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 48 °F 70°48° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 32 °F 50°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 MarApril: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 6.02 in precipitation 6.0 MayJune: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Roanoke Regional Airport, VA (6 mi away); precipitation: Roanoke 4.3 Sw, VA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Salem

241537b
5 to 10 °F
241557b
5 to 10 °F
241577b
5 to 10 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Salem

What planting zone is Salem, VA?

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

When is the last frost in Salem, VA?

The median last spring frost is April 3 and the median first fall frost is November 1 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Roanoke Regional Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Salem, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 20 – Mar 13; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 10, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Salem, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Salem, VA get?

About 46.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).