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

Planting zone for 22845 — Orkney Springs, VA

ZIP code 22845 (Orkney Springs, Shenandoah County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 22845 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 12
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Orkney Springs, 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 Orkney Springs, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Lost Rvr, WV — 12 miles away, elevation 1,690 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 22845

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 22845 came on Mar 12 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 25).

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 6b in Virginia

591 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 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 82

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 124

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 192

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 168

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 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Orkney Springs, VA.

Soil in Orkney Springs, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 22845 is Jefferson — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Jefferson sandy loam, 2 to 15 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 22845; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Orkney Springs, VA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights139nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,762base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation37.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall21 inper year; 23 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 41 °F, low 19 °F 41°19° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 20 °F 44°20° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 26 °F 51°26° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 58 °F 84°58° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 23 °F 45°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.38 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 2.4❄5 JanFebruary: 1.81 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 1.8❄8 FebMarch: 2.88 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 2.9❄3 MarApril: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 2.55 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 2.28 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.3 NovDecember: 2.66 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 2.7❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lost Rvr, WV (12 mi away); precipitation: Edinburg, VA (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

4 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

228157a
Broadway, VA · 4 mi
228106b
Basye, VA · 5 mi
268126b
Mathias, WV · 8 mi
228206b
Criders, VA · 8 mi
228427a
Mount Jackson, VA · 8 mi
228477a
Quicksburg, VA · 8 mi
228116b
Bergton, VA · 8 mi
228537a
Timberville, VA · 10 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 22845

What planting zone is ZIP code 22845?

ZIP code 22845 (Orkney Springs, VA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Orkney Springs, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 22845 is May 3; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lost Rvr station.

When is the first frost in Orkney Springs, VA?

The median first fall frost near 22845 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 22845?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 22845 get?

About 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 21 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Edinburg station).

How hot do summers get in Orkney Springs, VA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 22845 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jefferson at the center of ZIP 22845: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Orkney Springs, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 22845 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Orkney Springs, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 22845 is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.