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

Planting zone for 24503 — Lynchburg, VA

ZIP code 24503 (Lynchburg, Lynchburg (city)) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 24503 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 17
First frostOct 25
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 Lynchburg, 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 Lynchburg, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season190 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 2 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Lynchburg #2, VA — 5 miles away, elevation 735 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 24503

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 1 – May 15
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
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 17) 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 24503 came on Mar 4 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7).

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 Lynchburg, VA.

Soil in Lynchburg, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24503 is Poplar Forest — sandy clay loam, well drained.

TextureSandy clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Poplar Forest sandy clay loam, 25 to 40 percent slopes, severely eroded.

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 24503; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lynchburg, VA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights119nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,589base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation43.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall12 inper year; 13 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 46 °F, low 25 °F 46°25° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 26 °F 50°26° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.38 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 3.4❄4 JanFebruary: 2.85 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 2.9❄4 FebMarch: 3.66 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.7❄2 MarApril: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.76 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 3.8❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lynchburg #2, VA (5 mi away); precipitation: Lynchburg #2, VA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

245147b
Lynchburg, VA · 5 mi
245367b
Coleman Falls, VA · 5 mi
245057b
Lynchburg, VA · 6 mi
245067b
Lynchburg, VA · 7 mi
245027b
Lynchburg, VA · 7 mi
245517b
Forest, VA · 8 mi
245157b
Lynchburg, VA · 8 mi
245727b
Madison Heights, VA · 8 mi

All 9 ZIP codes in Lynchburg → · Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24503

What planting zone is ZIP code 24503?

ZIP code 24503 (Lynchburg, 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 Lynchburg, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24503 is April 17; after May 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lynchburg #2 station.

When is the first frost in Lynchburg, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24503 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 190 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24503?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 20 – Mar 6 and set transplants outside around Apr 24 – May 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24503 get?

About 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lynchburg #2 station).

How hot do summers get in Lynchburg, VA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24503 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Poplar Forest at the center of ZIP 24503: sandy clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Lynchburg, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24503 came on Mar 4 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lynchburg, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24503 is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24503 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24503 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.