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

Planting zone for 24442 — Head Waters, VA

ZIP code 24442 (Head Waters, Highland County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 24442 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 8
First frostOct 5
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Head Waters, 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 Head Waters, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season148 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Mustoe 1 Sw, VA — 16 miles away, elevation 2,369 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 24442

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 24442 came on Mar 11 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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 6b in Virginia

591 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 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 82

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 124

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 192

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 168

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 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Head Waters, VA.

Soil in Head Waters, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24442 is Macove — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Macove-Berks complex, 35 to 60 percent slopes, very stony.

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 24442; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Head Waters, VA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,319base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 51 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall39 inper year; 33 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 39 °F, low 18 °F 39°18° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 27 °F 51°27° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.64 in precipitation, 10.2 in snowfall 3.6❄10 JanFebruary: 3.28 in precipitation, 11.2 in snowfall 3.3❄11 FebMarch: 4.34 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 4.3❄7 MarApril: 4.34 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 4.3❄1 AprMay: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 2.94 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.9 OctNovember: 3.38 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 3.4❄2 NovDecember: 3.68 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 3.7❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mustoe 1 Sw, VA (16 mi away); precipitation: Mustoe 1 Sw, VA (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

244336a
Doe Hill, VA · 4 mi
244586b
Mc Dowell, VA · 8 mi
244856b
West Augusta, VA · 8 mi
268156b
Sugar Grove, WV · 8 mi
244217a
Churchville, VA · 12 mi
228437a
Mount Solon, VA · 13 mi
244136a
Blue Grass, VA · 13 mi
244656a
Monterey, VA · 14 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24442

What planting zone is ZIP code 24442?

ZIP code 24442 (Head Waters, VA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Head Waters, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24442 is May 8; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mustoe 1 Sw station.

When is the first frost in Head Waters, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24442 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 148 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24442?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24442 get?

About 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 39 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mustoe 1 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Head Waters, 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 24442 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Macove at the center of ZIP 24442: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Head Waters, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24442 came on Mar 11 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Head Waters, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24442 is 14 h 51 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24442 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24442 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.