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

Planting zone for 24148 — Ridgeway, VA

ZIP code 24148 (Ridgeway, Henry County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 24148 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 24
First frostOct 21
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 Ridgeway, 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 Ridgeway, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season179 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Martinsville Fltr Plt, VA — 9 miles away, elevation 781 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 24148

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 24148 came on Mar 2 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (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.

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 Ridgeway, VA.

Soil in Ridgeway, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24148 is Minnieville — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately 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: Minnieville 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 24148; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ridgeway, VA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights119nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,780base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 40 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 39 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
Snowfall9 inper year; 3 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 24 °F 48°24° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 26 °F 52°26° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 32 °F 60°32° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 40 °F 71°40° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 50 °F 78°50° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 59 °F 85°59° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 64 °F 88°64° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 43 °F 71°43° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 32 °F 60°32° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 26 °F 51°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.83 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 3.8❄3 JanFebruary: 3.04 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.0❄2 FebMarch: 4.08 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 4.1❄2 MarApril: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 SepOctober: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.72 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 3.7❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Martinsville Fltr Plt, VA (9 mi away); precipitation: Martinsville Fltr Plt, VA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

241137b
Martinsville, VA · 7 mi
241147b
Martinsville, VA · 7 mi
241157b
Martinsville, VA · 7 mi
270487b
Stoneville, NC · 7 mi
272887b
Eden, NC · 9 mi
240897b
Fieldale, VA · 10 mi
241127b
Martinsville, VA · 10 mi
240787b
Collinsville, VA · 10 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24148

What planting zone is ZIP code 24148?

ZIP code 24148 (Ridgeway, 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 Ridgeway, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24148 is April 24; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Martinsville Fltr Plt station.

When is the first frost in Ridgeway, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24148 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24148?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24148 get?

About 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Martinsville Fltr Plt station).

How hot do summers get in Ridgeway, VA?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 28 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24148 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Minnieville at the center of ZIP 24148: loam, well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Ridgeway, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24148 came on Mar 2 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ridgeway, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24148 is 14 h 40 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24148 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24148 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.