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

Planting zone for 23117 — Mineral, VA

ZIP code 23117 (Mineral, Louisa County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 23117 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 26
First frostOct 20
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 Mineral, 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 Mineral, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Louisa, VA — 8 miles away, elevation 420 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 23117

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 23117 came on Mar 8 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 6).

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 Mineral, VA.

Soil in Mineral, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23117 is Appling — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Appling sandy loam, 7 to 15 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 23117; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mineral, VA

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days33days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights110nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,815base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation44.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year; 10 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 42 °F 70°42° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.00 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.0❄5 JanFebruary: 2.74 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 2.7❄6 FebMarch: 3.70 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 3.7❄2 MarApril: 3.38 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.4 AprMay: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.59 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.6 NovDecember: 3.33 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 3.3❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Louisa, VA (8 mi away); precipitation: Louisa, VA (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

230247a
Bumpass, VA · 6 mi
230937a
Louisa, VA · 9 mi
231707a
Trevilians, VA · 12 mi
230677a
Hadensville, VA · 13 mi
230657a
Gum Spring, VA · 13 mi
230157a
Beaverdam, VA · 13 mi
225347a
Partlow, VA · 13 mi
231537a
Sandy Hook, VA · 15 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23117

What planting zone is ZIP code 23117?

ZIP code 23117 (Mineral, 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 Mineral, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23117 is April 26; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Louisa station.

When is the first frost in Mineral, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23117 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23117?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23117 get?

About 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Louisa station).

How hot do summers get in Mineral, VA?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 33 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23117 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Appling at the center of ZIP 23117: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Mineral, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23117 came on Mar 8 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mineral, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23117 is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.