When to plant tomatoes in Virginia

Plant out in Virginia Beach

Apr 5–Apr 19

Across Virginia the window opens between March 23 and May 1. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Virginia Beach: Feb 1–Feb 15
Plant out, Virginia Beach: Apr 5–Apr 19
Last sowing for a harvest: Aug 5
Last frost, Virginia Beach: Mar 29

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Virginia BeachApr 5–Apr 19

RichmondApr 10–Apr 24

ArlingtonMar 31–Apr 14

NorfolkMar 23–Apr 6

Newport NewsApr 8–Apr 22

AlexandriaMar 31–Apr 14

HamptonMar 31–Apr 14

SuffolkApr 3–Apr 17

RoanokeApr 10–Apr 24

PortsmouthMar 30–Apr 13

LynchburgApr 24–May 8

Dale CityApr 19–May 3

CentrevilleApr 22–May 6

RestonApr 21–May 5

HarrisonburgApr 28–May 12

McLeanApr 16–Apr 30

LeesburgApr 23–May 7

TuckahoeApr 17–May 1

AshburnApr 20–May 4

BlacksburgMay 1–May 15

Lake RidgeApr 19–May 3

CharlottesvilleApr 9–Apr 23

ManassasApr 19–May 3

WoodbridgeApr 4–Apr 18

BurkeApr 21–May 5

Linton HallApr 19–May 3

AnnandaleApr 21–May 5

DanvilleApr 15–Apr 29

MechanicsvilleApr 17–May 1

OaktonApr 21–May 5

All 64 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, plant out from April 5 to April 19. Across Virginia the window opens between March 23 and May 1, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Virginia

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia