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

Planting zone for 22443 — Colonial Beach, VA

ZIP code 22443 (Colonial Beach, Westmoreland County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 22443 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 8
First frostOct 30
2012 zone7b

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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Colonial Beach, 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 Colonial Beach, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season204 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 10.

From the NOAA station Warsaw 2 Nw, VA — 17 miles away, elevation 141 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 22443

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 22443 came on Mar 10 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 5).

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 Colonial Beach, VA.

Soil in Colonial Beach, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 22443 is Montross — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Montross silt loam, 0 to 2 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 22443; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Colonial Beach, VA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights77nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,351base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 30 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.6 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 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° 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 64 °F 84°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 32 °F 50°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 JanFebruary: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 AugSeptember: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Warsaw 2 Nw, VA (17 mi away); precipitation: Montross 5.2 Ese, VA (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

225447b
Rollins Fork, VA · 4 mi
225097b
Loretto, VA · 6 mi
225267b
Ninde, VA · 8 mi
225587b
Stratford, VA · 8 mi
224387b
Champlain, VA · 9 mi
224817b
Jersey, VA · 9 mi
224367b
Caret, VA · 9 mi
206457b
Issue, MD · 10 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 22443

What planting zone is ZIP code 22443?

ZIP code 22443 (Colonial Beach, VA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Colonial Beach, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 22443 is April 8; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Warsaw 2 Nw station.

When is the first frost in Colonial Beach, VA?

The median first fall frost near 22443 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 204 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 22443?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 11 – Feb 25 and set transplants outside around Apr 15 – Apr 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 22443 get?

About 46.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montross 5.2 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Colonial Beach, VA?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 44 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 22443 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Montross at the center of ZIP 22443: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Colonial Beach, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 22443 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Colonial Beach, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 22443 is 14 h 49 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.