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

Planting zone for 23856 — Freeman, VA

ZIP code 23856 (Freeman, Brunswick County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost October 31.

Where ZIP 23856 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 7
First frostOct 31
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 Freeman, 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 Freeman, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season205 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Lawrenceville 3 E, VA — 5 miles away, elevation 325 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 23856

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 23856 came on Mar 1 — 4 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).

Native plants for zone 7b in Virginia

629 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 89

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 133

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 200

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 181

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 Freeman, VA.

Soil in Freeman, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23856 is Appling — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Appling-Mattaponi complex, 2 to 8 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 23856; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Freeman, VA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days43days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights101nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,419base 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
Precipitation46.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 27 °F 50°27° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 36 °F 61°36° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 44 °F 72°44° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 67 °F 90°67° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°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: 3.40 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.4❄1 JanFebruary: 2.59 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.6 FebMarch: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 5.07 in precipitation 5.1 AugSeptember: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.56 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.6❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lawrenceville 3 E, VA (5 mi away); precipitation: Emporia 1 Wnw, VA (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

238437b
Dolphin, VA · 7 mi
238687b
Lawrenceville, VA · 8 mi
238897b
Warfield, VA · 8 mi
238707b
Jarratt, VA · 12 mi
238677b
Jarratt, VA · 12 mi
238477b
Emporia, VA · 12 mi
238727b
Mc Kenney, VA · 13 mi
238217b
Alberta, VA · 13 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23856

What planting zone is ZIP code 23856?

ZIP code 23856 (Freeman, 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 Freeman, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23856 is April 7; after April 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lawrenceville 3 E station.

When is the first frost in Freeman, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23856 is October 31, giving a median frost-free growing season of 205 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23856?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 10 – Feb 24 and set transplants outside around Apr 14 – Apr 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23856 get?

About 46.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Emporia 1 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Freeman, VA?

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

What kind of soil does 23856 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Appling at the center of ZIP 23856: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Freeman, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23856 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Freeman, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23856 is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.