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

Planting zone for 22655 — Stephens City, VA

ZIP code 22655 (Stephens City, Frederick County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 22655 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 11
First frostOct 29
2012 zone6b

Was 6b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Stephens City, 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 Stephens City, 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 — 9 miles away, 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 22655

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 22655 came on Mar 10 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

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 Stephens City, VA.

Soil in Stephens City, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 22655 is Weikert — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Weikert-Berks channery silt loams, 15 to 25 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 22655; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stephens City, 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 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation41.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

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

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.26 in precipitation 2.3 FebMarch: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Winchester, VA (9 mi away); precipitation: Stephens City 2.2 E, VA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

226457a
Middletown, VA · 5 mi
226637a
White Post, VA · 5 mi
226027a
Winchester, VA · 7 mi
226047a
Winchester, VA · 7 mi
226017a
Winchester, VA · 8 mi
226467a
Millwood, VA · 9 mi
226207a
Boyce, VA · 9 mi
226307a
Front Royal, VA · 10 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 22655

What planting zone is ZIP code 22655?

ZIP code 22655 (Stephens City, 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 Stephens City, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 22655 is April 11; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Winchester station.

When is the first frost in Stephens City, VA?

The median first fall frost near 22655 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 200 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 22655?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 22655 get?

About 41.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stephens City 2.2 E station).

How hot do summers get in Stephens City, VA?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 23 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 22655 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Weikert at the center of ZIP 22655: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Stephens City, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 22655 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Stephens City, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 22655 is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 22655 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 22655 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.