Mount Vernon, VA planting zone & frost dates
Mount Vernon is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 3 and the first fall frost around November 8, for a growing season of about 217 days.
Planting calendar for Mount Vernon
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 3) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Feb 6 – Feb 20 Transplant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 Transplant outdoors: Apr 17 – Apr 24 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 Transplant outdoors: Apr 17 – Apr 24 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 Transplant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 Transplant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 20 – Mar 6 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 20 – Mar 6 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 20 – Mar 6 Transplant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 13 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 8).
Useful for zone 7b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Mar 19 | Apr 3 | Apr 15 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 23 | Nov 8 | Oct 24 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 15, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 24. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 21.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Mount Vernon
- 22121 zone 7b
Nearby cities
- Woodlawn zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Hybla Valley zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Fort Hunt zone 8a, last frost Apr 3
- Groveton zone 8a, last frost Apr 3
- Rose Hill zone 7b, last frost Mar 24
- Franconia zone 7b, last frost Mar 24
- Huntington zone 8a, last frost Apr 3
- Newington zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
Questions
What growing zone is Mount Vernon, VA?
Mount Vernon is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b (average extreme winter low 5°F to 10°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Mount Vernon?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Mount Vernon is April 3. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 15.
When can I plant tomatoes in Mount Vernon?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 10 – Apr 17. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Oxon Hill, MD (USC00186800), 12.9 km (8.0 mi) from the city center, elevation 58 m, based on 16 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.