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

Planting zone for 24634 — Pilgrims Knob, VA

ZIP code 24634 (Pilgrims Knob, Buchanan County) 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 26.

Where ZIP 24634 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 26
2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — a full 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 Pilgrims Knob, 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 Pilgrims Knob, 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 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 6 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Grundy, VA — 11 miles away, elevation 1,158 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 24634

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 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 24634 came on Mar 7 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13).

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 Pilgrims Knob, VA.

Soil in Pilgrims Knob, VA

The center of ZIP 24634 is mapped as Dumps, mine-Urban land complex: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 24634; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pilgrims Knob, VA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights112nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,356base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 44 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
Precipitation46.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year; 15 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 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 40 °F 67°40° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.31 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 3.3❄6 JanFebruary: 3.28 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 3.3❄4 FebMarch: 4.03 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 4.0❄3 MarApril: 4.30 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.3 AprMay: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 5.69 in precipitation 5.7 JulAugust: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 2.61 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.6 NovDecember: 3.70 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.7❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Grundy, VA (11 mi away); precipitation: Grundy, VA (11 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.

246577a
Whitewood, VA · 4 mi
248737a
Paynesville, WV · 6 mi
246317a
Oakwood, VA · 6 mi
246247a
Keen Mountain, VA · 6 mi
246397a
Raven, VA · 7 mi
248177a
Bradshaw, WV · 7 mi
246587a
Wolford, VA · 7 mi
246226b
Jewell Ridge, VA · 7 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24634

What planting zone is ZIP code 24634?

ZIP code 24634 (Pilgrims Knob, 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 Pilgrims Knob, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24634 is April 21; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grundy station.

When is the first frost in Pilgrims Knob, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24634 is October 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 189 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24634?

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 24634 get?

About 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grundy station).

How hot do summers get in Pilgrims Knob, VA?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Pilgrims Knob, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24634 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pilgrims Knob, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24634 is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24634 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24634 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.