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

Planting zone for 24059 — Bent Mountain, VA

ZIP code 24059 (Bent Mountain, Roanoke County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 24059 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 21
First frostOct 25
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bent Mountain, 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 Bent Mountain, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season186 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 6 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Copper Hill, VA — 5 miles away, elevation 2,848 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 24059

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 24059 came on Mar 8 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21).

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 7a in Virginia

618 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 87

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 129

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 197

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 179

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 Bent Mountain, VA.

Soil in Bent Mountain, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24059 is Thurmont — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Thurmont sandy loam, 2 to 7 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 24059; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bent Mountain, VA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights106nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,777base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall18 inper year; 19 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 24 °F 44°24° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 49 °F 69°49° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 60 °F 78°60° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 54 °F 72°54° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 33 °F 52°33° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.61 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 3.6❄5 JanFebruary: 2.86 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 2.9❄5 FebMarch: 3.93 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 3.9❄3 MarApril: 4.20 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.2❄1 AprMay: 5.07 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 5.42 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 5.39 in precipitation 5.4 SepOctober: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.56 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.6 NovDecember: 3.58 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 3.6❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Copper Hill, VA (5 mi away); precipitation: Copper Hill, VA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

240187b
Roanoke, VA · 6 mi
241627a
Shawsville, VA · 7 mi
240797a
Copper Hill, VA · 7 mi
240877b
Elliston, VA · 7 mi
240657b
Boones Mill, VA · 8 mi
240677b
Callaway, VA · 9 mi
241557b
Salem, VA · 10 mi
241577b
Salem, VA · 10 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24059

What planting zone is ZIP code 24059?

ZIP code 24059 (Bent Mountain, VA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Bent Mountain, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24059 is April 21; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Copper Hill station.

When is the first frost in Bent Mountain, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24059 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 186 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24059?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 24 – Mar 10 and set transplants outside around Apr 28 – May 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24059 get?

About 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 18 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Copper Hill station).

How hot do summers get in Bent Mountain, VA?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24059 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Thurmont at the center of ZIP 24059: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bent Mountain, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24059 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bent Mountain, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24059 is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24059 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24059 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.