When to plant turnips 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
Fall planting, Virginia Beach: Sep 3–Sep 17
Last frost, Virginia Beach: Mar 29

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Fall turnips are sweeter. Pull them at 2–3 inches across.

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

Questions

When should I plant turnips 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; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Virginia

Turnips in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia