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

Planting zone for 23310 — Cape Charles, VA

ZIP code 23310 (Cape Charles, Northampton County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost November 17.

Where ZIP 23310 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 frostMar 28
First frostNov 17
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 Cape Charles, 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 Cape Charles, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 17median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season234 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 15 and returns around December 2.

From the NOAA station Cape Charles 5 Ene, VA — 3 miles away, elevation 30 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 23310

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 22 – Oct 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 3 – Dec 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 28) and first fall frost (Nov 17) 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 23310 came on Mar 6 — 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 24).

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 Cape Charles, VA.

Soil in Cape Charles, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23310 is Bojac — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bojac sandy 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 23310; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cape Charles, VA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights52nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,312base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation44.5 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 47 °F, low 32 °F 47°32° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 33 °F 49°33° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 39 °F 55°39° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 48 °F 65°48° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 58 °F 72°58° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 66 °F 81°66° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 71 °F 85°71° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 69 °F 83°69° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 64 °F 78°64° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 53 °F 69°53° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 43 °F 59°43° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 36 °F 51°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cape Charles 5 Ene, VA (3 mi away); precipitation: Cape Charles 5 Ene, VA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

234298a
Seaview, VA · 1 mi
233168a
Cheriton, VA · 2 mi
234198a
Oyster, VA · 4 mi
233138b
Capeville, VA · 4 mi
234438b
Townsend, VA · 5 mi
233478a
Eastville, VA · 7 mi
234058a
Machipongo, VA · 11 mi
233078a
Birdsnest, VA · 13 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23310

What planting zone is ZIP code 23310?

ZIP code 23310 (Cape Charles, 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 Cape Charles, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23310 is March 28; after April 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cape Charles 5 Ene station.

When is the first frost in Cape Charles, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23310 is November 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 234 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23310?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 31 – Feb 14 and set transplants outside around Apr 4 – Apr 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23310 get?

About 44.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cape Charles 5 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Cape Charles, VA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23310 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bojac at the center of ZIP 23310: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Cape Charles, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23310 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cape Charles, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23310 is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.