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

Planting zone for 24201 — Bristol, VA

ZIP code 24201 (Bristol, Bristol (city)) 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 20.

Where ZIP 24201 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 20
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 Bristol, 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 Bristol, 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 20median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 7 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Abingdon 3s, VA — 12 miles away, elevation 1,926 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 24201

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 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 24201 came on Mar 2 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 4).

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 Bristol, VA.

Soil in Bristol, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24201 is Udorthents, well drained.

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Udorthents-Urban land complex, 0 to 25 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 24201; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bristol, VA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights108nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,501base 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
Precipitation47.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 FebMarch: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Abingdon 3s, VA (12 mi away); precipitation: Abingdon 3s, VA (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

242057a
Bristol, VA · 1 mi
242037a
Bristol, VA · 1 mi
242097a
Bristol, VA · 1 mi
376257b
Bristol, TN · 2 mi
242027a
Bristol, VA · 4 mi
376207a
Bristol, TN · 6 mi
376217a
Bristol, TN · 9 mi
242707a
Mendota, VA · 9 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Bristol → · Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24201

What planting zone is ZIP code 24201?

ZIP code 24201 (Bristol, 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 Bristol, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24201 is April 21; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Abingdon 3s station.

When is the first frost in Bristol, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24201 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 182 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24201?

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 24201 get?

About 47.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Abingdon 3s station).

How hot do summers get in Bristol, VA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Bristol, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24201 came on Mar 2 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bristol, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24201 is 14 h 40 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24201 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24201 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.