Last frost date in Mechanicsville, VA

Average last frost
April 10

In Mechanicsville, the last spring frost comes around April 10 in an average year. Wait until April 29 if you want 90% odds of no more frost. The first fall frost usually arrives about October 31, which leaves 202 frost-free days. An early freeze before October 17 happens one year in ten.

Safe after (10% risk)
Apr 29
Average first frost
Oct 31
Frost-free season
202 days
Hard freeze (28°F) ends
Mar 28
Next 7 nights in Mechanicsville

No frost in the next 7 nights

National Weather Service forecast, updated Oct 22, 12:57 UTC

  1. ThuOct 2244°
  2. FriOct 2340°
  3. SatOct 2442°
  4. SunOct 2541°
  5. MonOct 2644°
  6. TueOct 2748°
  7. WedOct 2849°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost Apr 10First frost Oct 31202 frost-free daysBlue: chance of 32°F frost. Green: average frost-free season.JFMAMJJASOND202 frost-free days
Frost risk through the year at Ashland Hanover County Municipal Airport, 6.9 miles from Mechanicsville.

Planting calendar for Mechanicsville

Windows count forward or back from the average frost dates above. Click a crop for dates across Virginia.

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
Warm-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
TomatoesApr 17–May 1
PumpkinsApr 24–May 8
SunflowersApr 10–May 1
CucumbersApr 24–May 1
CornApr 17–May 1
Sweet potatoesMay 1–May 15
WatermelonApr 24–May 8
Green beansApr 17–May 8
ZucchiniApr 17–May 1
OkraMay 1–May 15
PeppersApr 24–May 8
BasilApr 17–May 1
Butternut squashApr 17–May 1
CantaloupeApr 24–May 8
EggplantApr 24–May 8
Cool-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PotatoesMar 13–Mar 27
OnionsFeb 27–Mar 20
CarrotsMar 20–Apr 24
LettuceMar 27–Apr 17
BroccoliMar 13–Mar 27
BeetsMar 13–Apr 24
PeasFeb 27–Mar 13
CabbageMar 13–Mar 27
RadishesMar 6–Apr 17
Brussels sproutsMar 27–Apr 10
SpinachFeb 27–Mar 20
CilantroMar 27–Apr 17
KaleMar 13–Mar 27
Collard greensMar 13–Mar 27
TurnipsMar 13–Mar 27
DillApr 10–Apr 24
CeleryApr 17–Apr 24
CauliflowerMar 27–Apr 10
LeeksMar 27–Apr 10
Swiss chardMar 27–Apr 24
ParsleyMar 27–Apr 17
Fall bulbs and garlic
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Tulip bulbsOct 17–Nov 21
GarlicOct 10–Nov 14
Daffodil bulbsOct 3–Nov 14
Perennials
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
StrawberriesMar 13–Mar 27
AsparagusMar 13–Mar 27

Frost probabilities

ThresholdSpring, 90% chance laterSpring, 50%Spring, 10%Fall, 10% chance earlierFall, 50%Fall, 90%
Light frost, 32°FMar 27Apr 10Apr 29Oct 17Oct 31Nov 13
Hard freeze, 28°FMar 12Mar 28Apr 11Oct 29Nov 11Nov 30

Read the spring 10% column as the date after which only one year in ten still gets frost. That is the safer date for tomatoes, peppers and basil.

Where these numbers come from

NOAA station Ashland Hanover County Municipal Airport (USW00093775) sits 6.9 miles from the center of Mechanicsville at 205 feet. Its averages cover 1991 to 2020. Low spots, valleys and open fields can keep getting frost a week or two after the station stops; city centers and lakeshores usually get less of it.

Questions

When is the last frost in Mechanicsville, VA?

The average last frost date in Mechanicsville is April 10, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. There is a 10% chance of frost after April 29.

When is the first frost in Mechanicsville?

The first frost in fall usually comes around October 31. One year in ten it arrives before October 17.

How long is the growing season in Mechanicsville?

About 202 days between the average last and first frost.

When should I plant tomatoes in Mechanicsville?

Plant tomato seedlings outside from April 17 to May 1. Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks earlier.

Nearby in Virginia

All 64 cities in Virginia