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

Planting zone for 24126 — Newbern, VA

ZIP code 24126 (Newbern, Pulaski County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 24126 is

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 25
First frostOct 17
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 Newbern, 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 Newbern, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 9 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Pulaski 2 E, VA — 6 miles away, elevation 2,080 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 24126

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 24126 came on Mar 7 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

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 Newbern, VA.

Soil in Newbern, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24126 is Lowell — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Lowell silt loam, 7 to 15 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 24126; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Newbern, VA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights119nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,070base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 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
Precipitation40 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year; 16 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 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.18 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.2❄5 JanFebruary: 2.67 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 2.7❄5 FebMarch: 3.56 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 3.6❄2 MarApril: 3.59 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.6❄1 AprMay: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.47 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.5 NovDecember: 3.17 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 3.2❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pulaski 2 E, VA (6 mi away); precipitation: Pulaski 2 E, VA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

240847a
Dublin, VA · 7 mi
243017a
Pulaski, VA · 7 mi
241297a
New River, VA · 7 mi
241417a
Radford, VA · 7 mi
243477a
Hiwassee, VA · 8 mi
241437a
Radford, VA · 8 mi
243247a
Draper, VA · 8 mi
240587a
Belspring, VA · 8 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24126

What planting zone is ZIP code 24126?

ZIP code 24126 (Newbern, 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 Newbern, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24126 is April 25; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pulaski 2 E station.

When is the first frost in Newbern, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24126 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24126?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24126 get?

About 40 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pulaski 2 E station).

How hot do summers get in Newbern, VA?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24126 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lowell at the center of ZIP 24126: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Newbern, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24126 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Newbern, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24126 is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24126 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24126 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.