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

Planting zone for Winchester, VA

Winchester, VA is in USDA zone 7a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 29.

Winchester on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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 codes4
Last frostApr 11
First frostOct 29
Growing season200 days

7a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Winchester, 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 Winchester, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season200 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Winchester, VA, elevation 722 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 Winchester

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 22601 came on Mar 11 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19).

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 Winchester, VA.

Soil in Winchester, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 22601 is Frederick — loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately

Map unit: Frederick-Poplimento-Urban land complex, 2 to 7 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 22601; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Winchester, VA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days23days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights101nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,590base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation40.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall23 inper year; 22 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.77 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 2.8❄7 JanFebruary: 2.24 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 2.2❄8 FebMarch: 3.46 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 3.5❄4 MarApril: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 2.79 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 2.8❄1 NovDecember: 3.10 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 3.1❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Winchester, VA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Winchester, VA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Winchester

226017a
0 to 5 °F
226027a
0 to 5 °F
226037a
0 to 5 °F
226047a
0 to 5 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Winchester

What planting zone is Winchester, VA?

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

When is the last frost in Winchester, VA?

The median last spring frost is April 11 and the median first fall frost is October 29 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Winchester station).

When can I plant a garden in Winchester, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 28 – Mar 21; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 18, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Winchester, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Winchester, VA get?

About 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 23 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).