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

Planting zone for 24608 — Burkes Garden, VA

ZIP code 24608 (Burkes Garden, Tazewell County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 24608 is

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 9
First frostOct 6
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Burkes Garden, 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 Burkes Garden, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season150 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Burkes Garden, VA — within 1 mile, elevation 3,068 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 24608

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 24608 came on Mar 10 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 Burkes Garden, VA.

Soil in Burkes Garden, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24608 is Pisgah — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Pisgah silt loam, karst, 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 24608; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Burkes Garden, VA

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights141nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,370base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall47 inper year; 40 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 21 °F 39°21° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°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 29 °F 52°29° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.98 in precipitation, 13.2 in snowfall 4.0❄13 JanFebruary: 3.67 in precipitation, 11.4 in snowfall 3.7❄11 FebMarch: 4.42 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 4.4❄9 MarApril: 4.05 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 4.0❄1 AprMay: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.16 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.2❄1 OctNovember: 2.96 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 3.0❄2 NovDecember: 4.05 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 4.0❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Burkes Garden, VA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Burkes Garden, VA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

243186b
Ceres, VA · 8 mi
243146b
Bastian, VA · 8 mi
246516b
Tazewell, VA · 9 mi
246306b
North Tazewell, VA · 9 mi
246056b
Bluefield, VA · 10 mi
246136b
Falls Mills, VA · 12 mi
246197a
Horsepen, VA · 13 mi
246047a
Bishop, VA · 13 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24608

What planting zone is ZIP code 24608?

ZIP code 24608 (Burkes Garden, 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 Burkes Garden, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24608 is May 9; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Burkes Garden station.

When is the first frost in Burkes Garden, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24608 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 150 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24608?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24608 get?

About 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 47 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Burkes Garden station).

How hot do summers get in Burkes Garden, VA?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24608 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pisgah at the center of ZIP 24608: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Burkes Garden, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24608 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Burkes Garden, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24608 is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.