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

Planting zone for 23178 — Ware Neck, VA

ZIP code 23178 (Ware Neck, Gloucester County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost November 10.

Where ZIP 23178 is

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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 1
First frostNov 10
2012 zone7b

Was 7b 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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ware Neck, 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 Ware Neck, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season223 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 21 and returns around November 23.

From the NOAA station N, VA — 2 miles away, elevation 3 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 23178

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 23178 came on Mar 7 — 9 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).

Native plants for zone 8a in Virginia

646 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 92

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 138

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 203

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 187

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 Ware Neck, VA.

Soil in Ware Neck, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23178 is Meggett — sandy loam, poorly drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Meggett 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 23178; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ware Neck, VA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights77nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,148base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation51.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall9 inper year; 5 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 29 °F 47°29° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 46 °F 66°46° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 56 °F 73°56° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 65 °F 81°65° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 70 °F 85°70° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 68 °F 83°68° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 63 °F 78°63° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 51 °F 69°51° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 40 °F 59°40° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.03 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 4.0❄4 JanFebruary: 2.92 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 2.9❄2 FebMarch: 3.93 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.9 MarApril: 3.94 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.9 AprMay: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 5.82 in precipitation 5.8 JulAugust: 5.52 in precipitation 5.5 AugSeptember: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 SepOctober: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.90 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 3.9❄1 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

231548a
Schley, VA · <1 mi
231558a
Severn, VA · 3 mi
231288a
North, VA · 3 mi
230568a
Foster, VA · 4 mi
230218a
Bohannon, VA · 4 mi
230618a
Gloucester, VA · 5 mi
231838a
White Marsh, VA · 5 mi
230258a
Cardinal, VA · 5 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23178

What planting zone is ZIP code 23178?

ZIP code 23178 (Ware Neck, VA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Ware Neck, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23178 is April 1; after April 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N station.

When is the first frost in Ware Neck, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23178 is November 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 223 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23178?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 4 – Feb 18 and set transplants outside around Apr 8 – Apr 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23178 get?

About 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N station).

How hot do summers get in Ware Neck, VA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23178 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Meggett at the center of ZIP 23178: sandy loam, poorly drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Ware Neck, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23178 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 9 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ware Neck, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23178 is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 23178 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 23178 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.