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

Planting zone for 23321 — Chesapeake, VA

ZIP code 23321 (Chesapeake, Chesapeake (city)) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 27 and the first fall frost November 15.

Where ZIP 23321 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 27
First frostNov 15
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 Chesapeake, 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 Chesapeake, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 15median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season233 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 15 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA — 11 miles away, elevation 23 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 23321

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 20 – Oct 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 1 – Dec 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 27) and first fall frost (Nov 15) 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 23321 came on Mar 2 — 13 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17).

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 Chesapeake, VA.

Soil in Chesapeake, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23321 is Tomotley — fine sandy loam, poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Tomotley-Nimmo complex, 0 to 1 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 23321; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chesapeake, VA

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days27days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights56nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,525base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 38 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54 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 52 °F, low 33 °F 52°33° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 65 °F 83°65° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 70 °F 87°70° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 69 °F 85°69° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 63 °F 80°63° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 52 °F 71°52° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 35 °F 53°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 JanFebruary: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 FebMarch: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 5.62 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 5.96 in precipitation 6.0 JulAugust: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 AugSeptember: 6.07 in precipitation 6.1 SepOctober: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA (11 mi away); precipitation: Portsmouth 4.1 Sse, VA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

237018a
Portsmouth, VA · 3 mi
234358a
Suffolk, VA · 4 mi
237028a
Portsmouth, VA · 5 mi
237078b
Portsmouth, VA · 5 mi
237058b
Portsmouth, VA · 6 mi
237048b
Portsmouth, VA · 6 mi
237098b
Portsmouth, VA · 7 mi
237038b
Portsmouth, VA · 7 mi

All 9 ZIP codes in Chesapeake → · Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23321

What planting zone is ZIP code 23321?

ZIP code 23321 (Chesapeake, 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 Chesapeake, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23321 is March 27; after April 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Suffolk Lake Kilby station.

When is the first frost in Chesapeake, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23321 is November 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 233 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23321?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 30 – Feb 13 and set transplants outside around Apr 3 – Apr 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23321 get?

About 54 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Portsmouth 4.1 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Chesapeake, VA?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 27 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23321 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tomotley at the center of ZIP 23321: fine sandy loam, poorly drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Chesapeake, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23321 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 13 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Chesapeake, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23321 is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.