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

Planting zone for 23005 — Ashland, VA

ZIP code 23005 (Ashland, Hanover County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 23005 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 10
First frostOct 29
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ashland, 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 Ashland, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season201 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Ashland, VA — within 1 mile, elevation 220 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 23005

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
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 10) 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 23005 came on Mar 7 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 3).

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 Ashland, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23005 is Dunbar — fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Dunbar fine sandy loam.

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 23005; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ashland, VA

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days25days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights89nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,186base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 47 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall15 inper year; 10 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.29 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 3.3❄6 JanFebruary: 2.82 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 2.8❄4 FebMarch: 3.79 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 3.8❄2 MarApril: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.72 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 3.7❄3 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

230477b
Doswell, VA · 6 mi
230597b
Glen Allen, VA · 6 mi
230607b
Glen Allen, VA · 7 mi
230697b
Hanover, VA · 8 mi
232287b
Henrico, VA · 9 mi
232947b
Henrico, VA · 9 mi
232277b
Richmond, VA · 11 mi
231167b
Mechanicsville, VA · 11 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23005

What planting zone is ZIP code 23005?

ZIP code 23005 (Ashland, 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 Ashland, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23005 is April 10; after April 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ashland station.

When is the first frost in Ashland, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23005 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 201 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23005?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 13 – Feb 27 and set transplants outside around Apr 17 – May 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23005 get?

About 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 15 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ashland station).

How hot do summers get in Ashland, VA?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 25 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23005 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dunbar at the center of ZIP 23005: fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Ashland, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23005 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ashland, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23005 is 14 h 47 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 23005 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 23005 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.