When to plant potatoes in Virginia

Sow outdoors in Virginia Beach

Mar 1–Mar 15

Across Virginia the window opens between February 16 and March 27. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Virginia Beach: Mar 1–Mar 15
Last frost, Virginia Beach: Mar 29

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed potatoes once the soil reaches about 45°F. Shoots that come up before the last frost can be covered with soil.

Potatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Virginia BeachMar 1–Mar 15

RichmondMar 6–Mar 20

ArlingtonFeb 24–Mar 10

NorfolkFeb 16–Mar 2

Newport NewsMar 4–Mar 18

AlexandriaFeb 24–Mar 10

HamptonFeb 24–Mar 10

SuffolkFeb 27–Mar 13

RoanokeMar 6–Mar 20

PortsmouthFeb 23–Mar 9

LynchburgMar 20–Apr 3

Dale CityMar 15–Mar 29

CentrevilleMar 18–Apr 1

RestonMar 17–Mar 31

HarrisonburgMar 24–Apr 7

McLeanMar 12–Mar 26

LeesburgMar 19–Apr 2

TuckahoeMar 13–Mar 27

AshburnMar 16–Mar 30

BlacksburgMar 27–Apr 10

Lake RidgeMar 15–Mar 29

CharlottesvilleMar 5–Mar 19

ManassasMar 15–Mar 29

WoodbridgeFeb 28–Mar 14

BurkeMar 17–Mar 31

Linton HallMar 15–Mar 29

AnnandaleMar 17–Mar 31

DanvilleMar 11–Mar 25

MechanicsvilleMar 13–Mar 27

OaktonMar 17–Mar 31

All 64 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant potatoes in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, sow outdoors from March 1 to March 15. Across Virginia the window opens between February 16 and March 27, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.