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

Planting zone for 23830 — Carson, VA

ZIP code 23830 (Carson, Dinwiddie County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 23830 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 9
First frostOct 29
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 Carson, 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 Carson, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season203 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Stony Creek 2 N, VA — 4 miles away, elevation 105 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 23830

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 23830 came on Mar 2 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25).

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 Carson, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23830 is Emporia — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Emporia 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 23830; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Carson, VA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days48days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights93nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,381base 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
Precipitation47.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall4 inper year; 3 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 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 68 °F 90°68° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 36 °F 61°36° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.38 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 3.4❄2 JanFebruary: 2.83 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 2.8❄1 FebMarch: 4.27 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 4.3❄1 MarApril: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 3.67 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.7❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Stony Creek 2 N, VA (4 mi away); precipitation: Stony Creek 2 N, VA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

238827b
Stony Creek, VA · 7 mi
238057b
Petersburg, VA · 7 mi
238417b
Dinwiddie, VA · 9 mi
238847b
Sussex, VA · 10 mi
238917b
Waverly, VA · 11 mi
238047b
Petersburg, VA · 12 mi
238427b
Disputanta, VA · 13 mi
238037b
Petersburg, VA · 14 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23830

What planting zone is ZIP code 23830?

ZIP code 23830 (Carson, 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 Carson, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23830 is April 9; after April 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stony Creek 2 N station.

When is the first frost in Carson, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23830 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 203 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23830?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23830 get?

About 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 4 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stony Creek 2 N station).

How hot do summers get in Carson, VA?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 48 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23830 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Emporia at the center of ZIP 23830: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Carson, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23830 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Carson, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23830 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.