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

Planting zone for 23124 — New Kent, VA

ZIP code 23124 (New Kent, New Kent County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost November 1.

Where ZIP 23124 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 7
First frostNov 1
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 New Kent, 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 New Kent, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season206 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 10.

From the NOAA station Sandston, VA — 12 miles away, elevation 164 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 23124

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 23124 came on Mar 8 — 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 26).

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 New Kent, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23124 is Roanoke — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Roanoke 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 23124; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in New Kent, VA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights97nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,255base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall8 inper year; 6 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 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 67 °F 90°67° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.19 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 3.2❄3 JanFebruary: 2.85 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 2.9❄2 FebMarch: 4.03 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.0❄1 MarApril: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.29 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.3 NovDecember: 3.69 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.7❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sandston, VA (12 mi away); precipitation: Walkerton 2 Nw, VA (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

231417b
Quinton, VA · 6 mi
231407b
Providence Forge, VA · 8 mi
230867b
King William, VA · 8 mi
230897b
Lanexa, VA · 9 mi
231817b
West Point, VA · 9 mi
231117b
Mechanicsville, VA · 12 mi
231507b
Sandston, VA · 12 mi
231777b
Walkerton, VA · 12 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23124

What planting zone is ZIP code 23124?

ZIP code 23124 (New Kent, 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 New Kent, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23124 is April 7; after April 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sandston station.

When is the first frost in New Kent, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23124 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 206 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23124?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 10 – Feb 24 and set transplants outside around Apr 14 – Apr 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23124 get?

About 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 8 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Walkerton 2 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in New Kent, VA?

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

What kind of soil does 23124 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Roanoke at the center of ZIP 23124: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in New Kent, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23124 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in New Kent, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23124 is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.