Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 23461 (Virginia Beach, VA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Oceana NAS, VA (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)230 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 55°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cape Charles 5 ENE (36 mi).
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cape Charles 5 ENE (36 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 23461 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 14 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 12: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 13 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 29 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 11 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 12 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 30 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 11 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 14 | Nov 25 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 23461
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 12). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 1–15 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 1–15 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 1–15 | Mar 8–29 (transplant) Mar 1–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–29 (transplant) Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 1–8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 1–8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 1–8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 1–8 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 1–8 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 4–18 | Apr 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Oceana NAS, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013769), elevation 23 ft, 5.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fentress Naas, VA | 11 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 18 |
| Norfolk Intl AP, VA | 16 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| Norfolk S, VA | 16 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 12 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 23461
When is the last frost in 23461?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 23461 is March 29. For a more cautious planting date, use April 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 23461?
The average first fall freeze is November 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 1.
What hardiness zone is 23461?
ZIP 23461 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 23461 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
23456 Virginia Beach 23460 Virginia Beach 23453 Virginia Beach 23451 Virginia Beach 23454 Virginia Beach 23452 Virginia Beach 23457 Virginia Beach 23462 Virginia Beach
Other ZIP codes in Virginia Beach city
23451 23452 23453 23454 23455 23456 23457 23459 23460 23462 23464 All Virginia Beach city frost dates · Virginia frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.