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

Planting zone for 24580 — Nelson, VA

ZIP code 24580 (Nelson, Mecklenburg County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost November 5.

Where ZIP 24580 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 frostMar 31
First frostNov 5
2012 zone7b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Nelson, 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 Nelson, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 23
Growing season220 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 18 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Clarksville, VA — 7 miles away, elevation 331 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 24580

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 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 24580 came on Mar 2 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 26).

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).

Soil in Nelson, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24580 is Herndon — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Herndon silt loam, 2 to 6 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 24580; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Nelson, VA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days54days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights78nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,639base 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
Precipitation46.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall4 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.30 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 3.3❄2 JanFebruary: 2.87 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.9❄1 FebMarch: 3.85 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.9 MarApril: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.59 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Clarksville, VA (7 mi away); precipitation: Clarksville, VA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

245297b
Buffalo Junction, VA · 4 mi
239277b
Clarksville, VA · 6 mi
245987b
Virgilina, VA · 7 mi
275077b
Bullock, NC · 8 mi
275827b
Stovall, NC · 11 mi
275747b
Roxboro, NC · 12 mi
245897b
Scottsburg, VA · 13 mi
239687b
Skipwith, VA · 13 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24580

What planting zone is ZIP code 24580?

ZIP code 24580 (Nelson, 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 Nelson, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24580 is March 31; after April 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clarksville station.

When is the first frost in Nelson, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24580 is November 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 220 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24580?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 3 – Feb 17 and set transplants outside around Apr 7 – Apr 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24580 get?

About 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 4 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clarksville station).

How hot do summers get in Nelson, VA?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 54 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24580 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Herndon at the center of ZIP 24580: silt loam, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Nelson, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24580 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Nelson, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24580 is 14 h 40 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.