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

Planting zone for 20140 — Rectortown, VA

ZIP code 20140 (Rectortown, Fauquier County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost November 1.

Where ZIP 20140 is

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
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 17
First frostNov 1
2012 zone7a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rectortown, 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 Rectortown, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 6 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Mt Wx, VA — 11 miles away, elevation 1,660 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 20140

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 1 – May 15
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
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 17) 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 20140 came on Mar 11 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17).

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).

Soil in Rectortown, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 20140 is Tankerville — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Tankerville-Purcellville complex, 15 to 25 percent slopes, rocky.

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 20140; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rectortown, VA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights105nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,269base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall20 inper year; 19 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 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 61 °F 79°61° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 65 °F 82°65° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 64 °F 81°64° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 57 °F 75°57° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 46 °F 64°46° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 27 °F 43°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.48 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 3.5❄8 JanFebruary: 2.37 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 2.4❄4 FebMarch: 3.69 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 3.7❄3 MarApril: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 SepOctober: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 3.48 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.5❄1 NovDecember: 3.45 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 3.5❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Wx, VA (11 mi away); precipitation: The Plains 2 Nne, VA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

201447a
Delaplane, VA · 4 mi
201167a
Marshall, VA · 4 mi
201857a
Upperville, VA · 5 mi
201847a
Upperville, VA · 6 mi
201987a
The Plains, VA · 7 mi
201157a
Marshall, VA · 7 mi
201187a
Middleburg, VA · 8 mi
226437a
Markham, VA · 8 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 20140

What planting zone is ZIP code 20140?

ZIP code 20140 (Rectortown, VA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Rectortown, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 20140 is April 17; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Wx station.

When is the first frost in Rectortown, VA?

The median first fall frost near 20140 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 20140?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 20 – Mar 6 and set transplants outside around Apr 24 – May 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 20140 get?

About 46.1 inches of precipitation a year and 20 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, The Plains 2 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Rectortown, VA?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 20140 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tankerville at the center of ZIP 20140: loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Rectortown, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 20140 came on Mar 11 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rectortown, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 20140 is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.