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

Planting zone for 23890 — Waverly, VA

ZIP code 23890 (Waverly, Sussex County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 23890 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 12
First frostOct 30
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 Waverly, 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 Waverly, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 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 31 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Wakefield 1nw, VA — 6 miles away, elevation 112 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 23890

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
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 12) 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 23890 came on Mar 3 — 8 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23).

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 Waverly, VA.

Soil in Waverly, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23890 is Slagle — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Slagle fine sandy loam, 2 to 6 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 23890; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waverly, VA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights88nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,523base 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
Precipitation51.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall6 inper year; 4 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 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 30 °F 53°30° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 36 °F 61°36° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° 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 68 °F 90°68° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 3.83 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 3.8❄4 JanFebruary: 2.80 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 2.8❄1 FebMarch: 4.22 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.2 MarApril: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 5.47 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 AugSeptember: 6.05 in precipitation 6.0 SepOctober: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.73 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.7❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wakefield 1nw, VA (6 mi away); precipitation: Wakefield 1nw, VA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

238917b
Waverly, VA · 5 mi
238887b
Wakefield, VA · 9 mi
238427b
Disputanta, VA · 10 mi
238847b
Sussex, VA · 11 mi
238397b
Dendron, VA · 12 mi
238787b
Sedley, VA · 14 mi
238817b
Spring Grove, VA · 14 mi
238977b
Yale, VA · 15 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Waverly → · Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23890

What planting zone is ZIP code 23890?

ZIP code 23890 (Waverly, 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 Waverly, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23890 is April 12; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wakefield 1nw station.

When is the first frost in Waverly, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23890 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 200 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23890?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 15 – Mar 1 and set transplants outside around Apr 19 – May 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23890 get?

About 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 6 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wakefield 1nw station).

How hot do summers get in Waverly, VA?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 44 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23890 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Slagle at the center of ZIP 23890: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Waverly, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23890 came on Mar 3 in 2026, 8 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Waverly, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23890 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.