When to plant peppers in Virginia

Plant out in Virginia Beach

Apr 12–Apr 26

Across Virginia the window opens between March 30 and May 8. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Virginia Beach: Jan 18–Feb 1
Plant out, Virginia Beach: Apr 12–Apr 26
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 31
Last frost, Virginia Beach: Mar 29

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Peppers germinate slowly. A heat mat under the seed tray speeds them up.

Peppers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Virginia BeachApr 12–Apr 26

RichmondApr 17–May 1

ArlingtonApr 7–Apr 21

NorfolkMar 30–Apr 13

Newport NewsApr 15–Apr 29

AlexandriaApr 7–Apr 21

HamptonApr 7–Apr 21

SuffolkApr 10–Apr 24

RoanokeApr 17–May 1

PortsmouthApr 6–Apr 20

LynchburgMay 1–May 15

Dale CityApr 26–May 10

CentrevilleApr 29–May 13

RestonApr 28–May 12

HarrisonburgMay 5–May 19

McLeanApr 23–May 7

LeesburgApr 30–May 14

TuckahoeApr 24–May 8

AshburnApr 27–May 11

BlacksburgMay 8–May 22

Lake RidgeApr 26–May 10

CharlottesvilleApr 16–Apr 30

ManassasApr 26–May 10

WoodbridgeApr 11–Apr 25

BurkeApr 28–May 12

Linton HallApr 26–May 10

AnnandaleApr 28–May 12

DanvilleApr 22–May 6

MechanicsvilleApr 24–May 8

OaktonApr 28–May 12

All 64 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Virginia Beach	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Mar 29
Richmond	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Arlington	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Mar 24
Norfolk	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Mar 30 to Apr 13	Mar 16
Newport News	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Alexandria	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Mar 24
Hampton	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Mar 24
Suffolk	Jan 16 to Jan 30	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Mar 27
Roanoke	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Portsmouth	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 23
Lynchburg	Feb 6 to Feb 20	May 1 to May 15	Apr 17
Dale City	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
Centreville	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Reston	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Harrisonburg	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
McLean	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 9
Leesburg	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Tuckahoe	Jan 30 to Feb 13	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 10
Ashburn	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 13
Blacksburg	Feb 13 to Feb 27	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Lake Ridge	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
Charlottesville	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Apr 2
Manassas	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
Woodbridge	Jan 17 to Jan 31	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Mar 28
Burke	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Linton Hall	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
Annandale	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Danville	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 8
Mechanicsville	Jan 30 to Feb 13	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 10
Oakton	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Fair Oaks	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
South Riding	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Petersburg	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Sterling	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 13
Springfield	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Mar 24
West Falls Church	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Fredericksburg	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Apr 20 to May 4	Apr 6
Winchester	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 11
Short Pump	Jan 30 to Feb 13	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 10
Tysons	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Staunton	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Fairfax	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Cave Spring	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Salem	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Herndon	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Bailey's Crossroads	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Mar 24
Brambleton	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 13
Waynesboro	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
Chantilly	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Chester	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Cherry Hill	Jan 17 to Jan 31	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Mar 28
Hopewell	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
West Springfield	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Leesylvania	Jan 17 to Jan 31	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Mar 28
McNair	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Christiansburg	Feb 8 to Feb 22	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Montclair	Jan 17 to Jan 31	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Mar 28
Culpeper	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
Lorton	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Woodlawn	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Rose Hill	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Mar 24
Merrifield	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Buckhall	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
Meadowbrook	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3

Questions

When should I plant peppers in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, plant out from April 12 to April 26. Across Virginia the window opens between March 30 and May 8, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Virginia

Peppers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia