When to plant pumpkins in Virginia

Pumpkins
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Virginia Beach
Apr 12–Apr 26
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 1
Last frost, Virginia Beach
Mar 29

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. For Halloween pumpkins, count back the variety's days to maturity from late September.

Pumpkins 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
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
Virginia BeachApr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
RichmondApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
ArlingtonApr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
NorfolkMar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
Newport NewsApr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
AlexandriaApr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
HamptonApr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
SuffolkApr 10 to Apr 24Mar 27
RoanokeApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
PortsmouthApr 6 to Apr 20Mar 23
LynchburgMay 1 to May 15Apr 17
Dale CityApr 26 to May 10Apr 12
CentrevilleApr 29 to May 13Apr 15
RestonApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
HarrisonburgMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
McLeanApr 23 to May 7Apr 9
LeesburgApr 30 to May 14Apr 16
TuckahoeApr 24 to May 8Apr 10
AshburnApr 27 to May 11Apr 13
BlacksburgMay 8 to May 22Apr 24
Lake RidgeApr 26 to May 10Apr 12
CharlottesvilleApr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
ManassasApr 26 to May 10Apr 12
WoodbridgeApr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
BurkeApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
Linton HallApr 26 to May 10Apr 12
AnnandaleApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
DanvilleApr 22 to May 6Apr 8
MechanicsvilleApr 24 to May 8Apr 10
OaktonApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
Fair OaksApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
South RidingApr 29 to May 13Apr 15
PetersburgApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
SterlingApr 27 to May 11Apr 13
SpringfieldApr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
West Falls ChurchApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
FredericksburgApr 20 to May 4Apr 6
WinchesterApr 25 to May 9Apr 11
Short PumpApr 24 to May 8Apr 10
TysonsApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
StauntonApr 29 to May 13Apr 15
FairfaxApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
Cave SpringApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
SalemApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
HerndonApr 29 to May 13Apr 15
Bailey's CrossroadsApr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
BrambletonApr 27 to May 11Apr 13
WaynesboroMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
ChantillyApr 29 to May 13Apr 15
ChesterApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Cherry HillApr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
HopewellApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31
West SpringfieldApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
LeesylvaniaApr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
McNairApr 29 to May 13Apr 15
ChristiansburgMay 3 to May 17Apr 19
MontclairApr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
CulpeperMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
LortonApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
WoodlawnApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Rose HillApr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
MerrifieldApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
BuckhallApr 26 to May 10Apr 12
MeadowbrookApr 17 to May 1Apr 3

Questions

When should I plant pumpkins in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, sow outdoors 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?

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

More for Virginia

Pumpkins in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia