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

Planting zone for 23304 — Battery Park, VA

ZIP code 23304 (Battery Park, Isle of Wight 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 9.

Where ZIP 23304 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 1
First frostNov 9
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Battery Park, 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 Battery Park, 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 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 9median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season221 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 20 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Newport News Intl Airport, VA — 11 miles away, elevation 43 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 23304

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 14 – Sep 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 26 – Nov 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 9) 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 23304 came on Mar 2 — 12 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

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 Battery Park, VA.

Soil in Battery Park, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23304 is Bohicket — silty clay loam, very poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.3neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter15%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bohicket silty clay 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 23304; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Battery Park, VA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days43days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights64nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,627base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 49 °F, low 31 °F 49°31° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 70 °F 88°70° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 63 °F 81°63° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 6.45 in precipitation 6.5 AugSeptember: 6.26 in precipitation 6.3 SepOctober: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Newport News Intl Airport, VA (11 mi away); precipitation: Smithfield 1.3 Sw, VA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

234248b
Rescue, VA · <1 mi
233148b
Carrollton, VA · 4 mi
234308a
Smithfield, VA · 5 mi
236068a
Newport News, VA · 6 mi
236018b
Newport News, VA · 6 mi
234338b
Suffolk, VA · 7 mi
236058b
Newport News, VA · 8 mi
234368b
Suffolk, VA · 8 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23304

What planting zone is ZIP code 23304?

ZIP code 23304 (Battery Park, 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 Battery Park, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23304 is April 1; after April 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newport News Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Battery Park, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23304 is November 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 221 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23304?

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 23304 get?

About 52.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Smithfield 1.3 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Battery Park, VA?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 43 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23304 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bohicket at the center of ZIP 23304: silty clay loam, very poorly drained, pH about 7.3 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Battery Park, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23304 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 12 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Battery Park, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23304 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.