Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 23876 — Rawlings, VA

ZIP code 23876 (Rawlings, Brunswick County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 23876 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 11

First frostOct 30

2012 zone7a

Was 7a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Rawlings, 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 Rawlings, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 16

Growing season200 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Ft Pickett, VA — 9 miles away, elevation 331 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 23876

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14

SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4

LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4

TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28

TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9

BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 23876 came on Mar 1 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 27).

average
Feb 272026
Mar 1

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.

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 Rawlings, VA.

Soil in Rawlings, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23876 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, 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 23876; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rawlings, VA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July

Winter low27 °Faverage low, January

Hot days30days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights102nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days4,210base 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

Precipitation47.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall10 inper year; 7 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Pickett, VA (9 mi away); precipitation: Alberta 5 N, VA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

Blackstone, VA · 11 mi

238737b

Meredithville, VA · 12 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23876

What planting zone is ZIP code 23876?

ZIP code 23876 (Rawlings, 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 Rawlings, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23876 is April 11; after May 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Pickett station.

When is the first frost in Rawlings, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23876 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 200 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23876?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23876 get?

About 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 10 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alberta 5 N station).

How hot do summers get in Rawlings, VA?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 30 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23876 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Emporia at the center of ZIP 23876: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Rawlings, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23876 came on Mar 1 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rawlings, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23876 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 23876 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 23876 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.